The costumes were on for the Early Childhood Education Center’s Halloween Goodie Gathering, and everyone had the perfect accessories: big candy bags and even bigger smiles.

On Oct. 30, a day before Halloween, educators, families, and school and Community business partners got into character and created a safe and fun space for the youngsters at ECEC.

The annual event is one of the many staples for the fall season in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, offering an introduction to safety in spookiness among peers and volunteers. It also allows parents and Community departments to get directly involved by crafting a table with treats and helpful resources, making sure the small versions of Spiderman, mermaids and princesses are loaded down with goodies. Kiddos enjoyed a magical visit with Veterans Services at their Harry Potter–themed table, saw firefighters whose costumes became uniforms, grabbed goldfish from a garden-themed table hosted by the Family Advocacy Center, and so much more.

This year’s Goodie Gathering was one for the books. Parents and family hoping to get involved in the next ECEC event can look forward to Reading All the Way on Dec. 11, when the Literacy for All team will host a celebration of all things reading with giveaways, prizes and “special visitors from the North Pole.” For more information, visit www.saltriverschools.org.