“When the children arrived, they came into the Westmount Room, and we gave them each a pirate treasure map, and then they got their first clue," said Wendy Wayling, head of the Library’s Children’s Department. Based on that clue, the treasure hunters would go to one of a number of stations set up on the first and second floors of the library. There, they would have to perform a task, such as knocking on a vampire’s coffin, counting the number of bats in a cave, or walking the plank, before being given a stamp for their map and another clue to take them to the next station.

Volunteers from local high schools manned the stations. Twenty-five students in teams of two to five handled these areas, decorating them, wearing costumes, and greeting treasure hunters, as well as helping with the clean-up afterwards. The work counted toward their community service hours for school.

“We’ve used them for a number of years, and they’re fantastic,” said Wayling. "They really got into the spirit of Halloween, and they were wonderful with the children.”

After the treasure hunt, prizes were awarded in the library’s annual pumpkin decorating contest, and cake and refreshments were served. Sophie Savretto won in the age 4 and under category, Sophia Naday won in the age 5 to 7 category, Ethan Kreuzer won in the age 8 to 12 category, and the families category was won by the Rejaee family.