POCATELLO - Ghouls and ghosties and not so long-legged beasties were mostly bumping into each other in the broad day-lit streets of Old Town Friday afternoon, beseeching sweets from businesses.

A tremendous turnout of tricksters were treated to a breezy but still balmy afternoon, negating the need to wear a jacket which might have spoiled a costume's effect.

Skunks, devils, vampires and witches were counterbalanced by the likes of Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man and other defenders of truth, justice and the American way. In an apparent truce, neither faction seemed to notice the other, but focused their attentions on candy handouts.

Nearly all downtown businesses appeared to be participating, and many owners and employees got into the spirit -pun intended- by donning costumes themselves as they doled out treats.

The Great Harvest gorilla kept up a lively banter with the crowd, complimenting kids on their outfits and inquiring of others their costume's theme.

"What are you?" the gorilla asked one youngster.

"A secret agent," the youngster confessed, his eyes mysteriously shaded by his snap brim fedora.

"A secret agent? You're not supposed to tell people," the simian said.

"Just fork over the candy, fuzzy," the boy said.

Okay, he wasn't quite that hard-boiled. But he still looked kind of menacing as he dropped the sucker into his stash.

Ezirah Vega cut a fearsome figure in his Bengal tiger outfit. Although only 4 months old and unable to eat most of the candy he received, proud parents Victor and Sarai appeared ready and willing to help him safely dispose of the treats.

The popular event required store owners to buy in bulk.

"We went through 50 pounds last year," said Gary Powers, an employee at Portneuf River Outfitters. "I can't believe the way the community turns out for this."

"It's tradition," said Tricia Kessler, an erstwhile zookeeper who was dispensing candy along with a stylish bat and a friendly bear outside of Myers-Anderson Architects. "We look forward to it every year."