You could say a ghoulishly good time was had by all on Halloween in the Fair Haven schools.

The Oct. 31 fun began before the school day ended and trick-or-treating in the neighborhoods began.

At Viola L. Sickles School, pre-kindergarten through third grade students gave their own brand of thrills and chills with the traditional Halloween parade in McCarter Park.

The traditional annual school parade was followed by HOCUS POCUS, a new theatre-in-the-round event created and hosted by music Teacher Vince Mottern. Mottern narrated the witchy HOCUS POCUS story as a coven of witches, Sickles School Principal Cheryl Cuddihy and school staff members, performed their parts. The witches’ lines in the performance served as prompts for the assembled students to sing Halloween songs.

Fourth and fifth graders at Knollwood School participated in a costume parade as well. It was capped off by a dance performance  choreographed to the Monster Mash song.

— Edited press release from the Fair Haven School District