Trick-or-treaters of all ages flooded downtown streets Friday afternoon for Main Street: Greeneville's annual "Halloween Happenings."

"Halloween is almost ageless," said Jann Mirkov, executive director of Main Street: Greeneville. "It doesn't matter how old you are, you can have fun."

Toddlers held their grandparents' hands as they sought candy from downtown merchants.

Teenagers were dressed in a variety of costumes, from scary clowns to football players.

Many of the trick-or-treaters rode in strollers.

A number of costumed pet dogs also joined in the fun.

Mirkov estimated the crowd to be in the thousands.

They enjoyed many free activities, including hay rides and other entertainment, in pleasant 70-degree weather.

Many came out before the 4 p.m. starting time to sign up for the first children's costume contest at Towne Square Shopping Center.

The Lion Club of Greeneville later held a children's costume contest at the Greene County Courthouse. An adult costume contest was held at the General Morgan Inn.

In front of the Greene County Courthouse, the cast of Theatre-at-Tusculum's "Beauty and the Beast" entertained on Main Street.

On the courthouse lawn, piano students of Deane K. Gray performed spooky music.

Miss Greene County, Candace Babb, handed out candy in front of Inn Style Boutique.

The Greeneville Fire Department parked a fire truck near the intersection of Main and Summer streets where firefighters handed out candy.

Also on Main Street, Greeneville Alderman Sarah Webster oversaw the sidewalk chalk drawing.

Webster said one of the most unique costumes she saw was that of a mermaid, which called for careful walking.

Hannah Richardson, 8, was dressed as a birthday present. She wore a giant box wrapped in bright-green polka-dotted paper with purple bows.

Popular costumes included football players, Dorothy of "The Wizard of Oz," princesses, cowboys and cowgirls.

Some trick-or-treaters dressed as characters from scary moves of the 1980s, including Jason Voorhees of "Friday the 13th," Freddy Krueger of "Nightmare on Elm Street" and Michael Myers of "Halloween."

Others dressed in traditional Halloween costumes, those of witches, skeletons, pumpkins and ghouls.

Super heroes, including Batman, Superman, Supergirl and Ironman were among the crowd.

Cartoon characters, like SpongeBob SquarePants, Thomas the Tank Engine, Care Bears and Winnie the Pooh, also were popular.

Others trick-or-treaters dressed as pirates, firemen, farmers and animals.

One grown man was dressed as a baby carrying a giant teddy bear.

"It's an excellent crowd," said Mirkov, who was dressed as a chef.

"You know what I like? All the smiles on the faces," she said.

Many of those smiles were spotted on hay wagons as they rode along Depot Street.

The hay rides were conducted by personnel of the Greeneville Public Works Department.

Officers with the Greeneville Police Department were at intersections directing pedestrian traffic.

"It's a safe environment. That's what's nice," Mirkov said.

In the Lion's Club of Greeneville costume contest:

* Winners among those those under four years were: first place, Hailey Brooks, princess; second place, Courtnee Jones, woodland fairy; and third place, Cameron Dieter, Dorothy.

* Winners in the 4-to-6-years category were: first place, Madison Metcalf, princess; second place, Dakotah Cutshall, coffin; and third place, Ethan Brooks, Transformer.

* Winners in the 7-to-9-years category were: first place, Keylan Newton, swat and prisoner; second place, Kristyn Legg, cowgirl; and third place, Katlyn Jones, pirate.

* Winners in the 10-12-years categpry were: first place, Jayce McCoy, Venus Fly Trap; second place, Joshua Sanchez, Dracula; and third place, Makayla Isley, hippie.

In the Towne Square costume contest:

* Winners ages among those under four years were: first place, Kingston Shepherd, a lion; second place, Jairus Norton, a nerd; and third place, Zachary Dunbar, Pillsbury Dough Boy.

* Winners among those four and five years old were: first place, Braydon Fields, plumber, second place, Courtnee Jones, woodland fairy; and third place, Marlee Gross, Dorothy.

* Winners among those six and seven years old were: first place, Keylan Newton, swat and prisoner; second place, Ethan Brooks, Transformer; and third place Migel Bobodilla, laundry basket.

* Winners among those eight and nine years old were: first place, Bryson Fields, mailman; second place, Lilly Santona, Spanish dancer; and third place, Zeb Gross, Harry Potter.

Winners among those from 10 to 12 years were: first place, Jayce McCoy, Venus Fly Trap; second place, Anna Marie Ingle, biker chick; and third place, Mack Mathis, Michael Jackson.

McCoy as the Venus Fly Trap won Best Costume, and Fields as the mailman won Most Original.

Winners of the adult costume contest will appear in a future edition of The Greeneville Sun.