Children without buckets could pick up their loot bags at three different locations: Green River Cafe, 211 M.A.C. Ave., Student Bookstore, 471 E. Grand River Ave. and Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbot Road.

These locations served as the starting points for the event.

Penny Hawkins, general manager of Beggar’s Banquet, was thrilled the restaurant was able to hand out bags this year.

“People who haven’t been here in years will be like, ‘Oh, Beggar’s Banquet. Great, we’ll be back,’” Hawkins said. “We’ve always participated, but this is our first year as a starting point.

“I bought some really cute bags,” she said. “I’ve got about 500 of those.”

No one is sure precisely how many people came out of the woodwork, but Pitera said the number grows every year, and that children make up the majority of the trick-or-treaters.

“Last year, I think about 600 kids attended,” he said.

With up to 1,000 people attending each year, stores prepare with candy and spooky decorations for the waves of children visiting the shops.

“Last year we were one of the starting points, and we kept running out of candy,” said Josephine Jabara, co-owner of Green River Cafe.

Hawkins also was surprised at how many sweets Beggar’s Banquet passed out during the Pumpkin Walk.

“I go through about 50-75 pounds of candy,” she said.

Olivet residents Bryce Maly, 7, and Brenna Maly, 4, enjoyed the Pumpkin Walk for its plethora of sweets.

“I like going from place to place,” Bryce Maly said.

Although he doesn’t enjoy dressing up, he still likes Laffy Taffy, he said.

The Great Pumpkin Walk welcomes families into the community and lets people know what businesses are around, Jabara said.

“It’s not really for business — it’s to welcome everyone,” Jabara said.

“We really like to be a place to have a lot of fun and entertainment and amusement.”