Costumed contestants line the Memorial Building stage last week Tuesday during the Traer Chamber of Commerce's annual Halloween Costume Contest. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – The annual Traer Chamber of Commerce Halloween Costume Contest took place last week Tuesday, Oct. 31 in the downtown Memorial Building and featured nearly 90 youngsters from babies to middle schoolers dressed up for a spooky, cold night of All Hallows’ Eve fun. From a tiny Queen Elizabeth and her corgi to a giant blow-up dinosaur, participants’ costumes ran the gamut and did not disappoint. Following the contest, trick-or-treating along Second Street at participating businesses took place. The 2023 contest category winners are listed below.

2023 Chamber Halloween Costume Contest winners

-Birth to 2 years: Flannery McAllister (best costume) and Delta Doyle (most original)

-3-4 years: Ryker Moye (best costume) and Henry Kopriva (most original)

-5-6 years: Galexie Stivers (best costume) and Brayson Hoyt (most original)

A quartet of costumed friends pictured prior to the judging. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

-7-8 years: Daisy Dvorak (best costume) and Kate Yuska (most original)

-9-10 years: Kolten Wrage (best costume) and Jaylyn Herrick (most original)

-11-12 years: Maeleigh Yeager (best costume) and Cable Cooper (most original)

It was a very ‘Hoppy Halloween’ for Flannery McAllister – the nine-month-old daughter of Telegraph reporter Ruby McAllister – and her dad Soren Peterson pictured last Tuesday afternoon in the Traer Memorial Building prior to the start of the annual Chamber of Commerce Halloween Costume Contest. McAllister, in her bunny suit, won best costume in the birth–2 years category. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

It was a bit loud for the (adorable!) Queen, Miss Delta Doyle as she worked to cover her ears during the birth–2 years category judging. A whistle was included in the treat bags handed out to all the contestants which made for a very boisterous event! (Chamber members apologetically promised never to include whistles in the bags again.) Doyle won the most original costume in her category. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A tiny cutie dressed up for Traer's annual Halloween Costume Contest on Oct. 31 in the Memorial Building. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A contestant dressed up as a sparkly witch gives a sweet smile to the camera during the Traer Chamber of Commerce's annual Halloween Costume Contest held in the Memorial Building after school on Oct. 31. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

"Rawr!" exclaims a dressed up youngster to his fellow contestants last week Tuesday afternoon in Traer. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A pair of costumed contestants in the 3-4 years category wait patiently during the judging last Tuesday afternoon in the Traer Memorial Building. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A youngster grins while peering out from inside his blow-up dinosaur costume while waiting to be judged during the 2023 Traer Chamber of Commerce Halloween Costume Contest held last week on Halloween in the Memorial Building. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Children (plus a caregiver) in spooktacular costumes line the Traer Memorial Building stage on Oct. 31 while being judged as part of the Traer Chamber of Commerce's annual Halloween Costume Contest. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

A trio of costumed contestants including McDonald’s mascot Grimace wait to be judged during Traer’s annual Halloween costume contest held in the Memorial Building last week Tuesday. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Cookie Monster and Elmo – aka cousins Josie and Abi Monat – smile during the judging portion of Traer’s annual Halloween Costume Contest held last week on Halloween afternoon in the downtown Memorial Building. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Contestants in the 11-12 years category pictured on the Traer Memorial Building stage during last week’s Traer Chamber of Commerce Halloween Costume Contest. Chamber member Amber Monat is also pictured (holding microphone). PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER