Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Sisters Ariel Young, 6, right, and Mercedes Barton, 3, hang out at the PumpkinFest Family Costume Parade Saturday morning at Patee Park, while passersby marvel at their elaborate fairy costumes. Numerous costumed cuties took part in the annual event.

Excitement filled the autumn air as kids from infants to pre-teens lined up at Ninth and Penn streets ready to show off their costumes for the 2008 Costume Parade.

The parade, held as part of St. Joseph’s annual PumpkinFest, began Saturday with warm weather. Last year the rain put a damper on things, but this year’s clear skies brightened up the parade.

Chris Price, a parade organizer, was impressed by the variety of costumes and the number of kids involved.

“The turnout was more than double, compared to last year’s,” Mr. Price said.

August Mason, whose daughters walked in the parade, appreciated the weather.

“Last year it was soggy,” Ms. Mason said.

Some participants thoroughly planned out their ideas, while other costumes simply fell into place.

Sheila Saxton got creative when her daughter picked out Dalmation-printed fabric for her costume.

“I sew; I have a sewing business, and my daughter wanted to be a Dalmation,“ Ms. Saxton said.

Since her son is in a wheelchair and doesn’t really like to dress up, she creatively found a way to incorporate the rest of her family into her daughter’s costume. Ms. Saxton and her son entered the contest dressed as dog catchers. Their creativity won them second place in the family category.

Patsy Beaver, an M&I Bank employee, was one of three costume judges for the parade.

“We picked mainly off of creativity,“ Ms. Beaver said. “It was very hard, of course.”

Craig Barton, whose two daughters dressed as fairies, has participated in the event for years.

“I absolutely enjoyed it, the kids enjoyed it, and we’re coming back next year,” Mr. Barton said. “The festival was great.”