Trick or treat on the Gainesville square

GAINESVILLE - Just about every Halloween character you know of, and a couple you don't, turned out on the downtown Gainesville Square this Halloween afternoon for Trick or Treat.

Yes, they were all there, the Mummy, Dracula, the Wolfman, and there was Captain Conservation, a timely edition to the costume fun, dressed in pea green and sky blue Spandex.

He wasn't giving out candy, but did have water conservation advice.

"I'm giving out some water tips, like when you're brushing your teeth, be sure to turn the water off," he said.

Kevin Finney, with Gainesville Public Utilities was also attired in gloves,goggles, a cape, and optimistically, water proof boots.

At the Posh Princess, a children's boutique, Tracy Cline in spooky dress was giving out lots of candy to her Halloween visitors.

"I was hoping to be the sister of the Wicked Witch of the West but I couldn't find the right tights, so in general I'm just a witch," she said.

Dr. Seuss was the inspiration for Erin Kaschub and her daughter Isabel.

They were brightly dressed in red and green as 'Thing One' and 'Thing Two' from "Cat in the Hat'.

"It's kind of Christmas in October," Thing One said. "This is much better to be out in the daylight; it's a lot safer, much less scary."

Trick or Treat on the Square,hosted by the downtown merchants and retailers, is intended as a safe and fun alternative to trick or treat on the streets after dark.