It was a busy Halloween Hunt at Aldergrove Village Shopping Centre on Saturday, Oct 29.

The return to a fully in-person version of the annual event featured a scavenger hunt, crafts, goodie bags, facepainting, popcorn, and games, as well as a bouncy castle.

Event manager Deborah Jorgenson estimated it drew about 400 participants to the centre, located on Fraser Highway at 264th Street.

鈥淚t鈥檚 totally a record,鈥� according to Jorgenson, who said prior to the pandemic, the annual event was averaging around 300.

 鈥淭his is our first Halloween Hunt, really, post-COVID,鈥� Jorgenson observed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really kind of a staple in the community. People like to come and be together and be in this fantastic space.鈥�

Despite ominous warnings by weather forecasters of an impending atmospheric river, it was near-perfect weather, clear and calm.

READ ALSO: Aldergrove shopping centre hosts free Halloween hunt for treats and prizes

First held in 2014, the annual pre-Halloween bash at the retail complex is hosted by management and tenants of the Aldergrove Village Shopping Centre with the help of Finer Details Event Planning.

READ ALSO: Aldergrove Village Shopping Centre invites families for COVID-safe Halloween Hunt

During the pandemic, a modified COVID safe edition of the Halloween Hunt offered families a 鈥減arty in a box,鈥� which came with seasonal decor, goodies, and activities for all ages. There were masks, and physical distancing including physical barriers and line up markers 鈥� and a virtual costume contest with entries submitted online.

But, Jorgenson noted, thankfully things are returning to normal.

More photos from the day can be.