SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Leopards and cowboys and garden gnomes, oh my!

There was no shortage of fun — or creativity — across Spanish Fort Friday and Saturday as residents hosted pre-emptive Halloween celebrations for children of all ages.

Caroline Nickelson, 7, of Fairhope had her first brush with 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center — and its resident corn snake, 12-year-old Cornelia — during the environmental education center’s 2010 Halloween Bash Saturday.

While 5 Rivers Assistant Manager Shonda Borden introduced children to some of the more crowd-friendly creatures in the center’s exhibit hall, trick-or-treaters from across Baldwin and Mobile counties began trickling in for three hours of candy, crafts and costumes.

“It’s so wonderful to have something this family-friendly and fun right here. My grandkids love coming out here, and they couldn’t wait to get here today in their costumes,” said Greta Sawyer as she led her little pumpkin, black cat and grim reaper through the doors to the arts-and-crafts room.

Borden said an estimated 400 people turned out for the second annual celebration that culminated with a costume contest.

Three-year-old Brantley Poole and 4-year-old Brayden Oates, both of Mobile, clamored to be the first aboard the “Swamp Buggy” that circled through the grounds in search of the elusive “skunk ape,” better known as the Alabama Sasquatch. Neither Poole, sporting his Woody costume from “Toy Story” fame, nor Oates, who had transformed into Bumblebee, seemed bothered that the safari hayride was being piloted by a zombie, especially after the fearless tour guide explained the ghoulish chauffer was a vegetarian.

Back in the main building, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and The Doors’ “People are Strange” played as astronaut Eli Williams, 3, of Daphne and Kyle Palm, 4, of Spanish Fort decorated frightful goody bags for treat gathering. Palm, of course, is better known around these parts as Batman.

5 Rivers was not the only ghoulish game in town.

The Eastern Shore Centre hosted its annual Trick-or-Treat night Friday, followed immediately by a screening of “Casper” at the Fountain, and Mallory Hicks of Daphne said the festivities were the perfect pace for her 5-year-old spider and her 7-year-old Wolverine.

“We had a great time, and the movie is one of our favorites. We’ll definitely do it again next year,” Hicks said.

Kristen Kammer-Hattox, the shopping center’s marketing director, said the turnout for Friday’s fright fest was “amazing,” but one of the biggest draws wasn’t the least bit scary.

“The Spanish Fort Fire Department also came out, and people loved seeing the truck and taking pictures with the guys,” Kammer-Hattox said.

The center’s activities were not limited to the under-10 crowd.

Katie and Liam Donnelson of Fairhope were biding their time until the 11:30 p.m. showing of “Night of the Living Dead” at Premiere Cinema.

The couple, who actually had their first date on Halloween 17 years ago, agreed there’s no better way to commemorate the evening that led to 15 years of wedded bliss than by watching zombies lurch and stagger.

“We saw ‘Leprechaun’ on our first date if that tells you anything about us,” said Katie Donnelson.