By LISA HOOVER

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg’s Halloween creativity will be on display Monday, Oct. 28 at the annual pumpkin carving and costume contest.

The Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce will host the event at the Dobisky Visitors Center again this year.

Kids will begin to arrive around 5:15 p.m., even though judging doesn’t begin until around 6 p.m., according to Sandra Porter, executive director at the chamber. “Judging starts as close to 6 (p.m.) as we can, and it’s all over by 8” p.m., she said.

Ogdensburg residents are “all looking forward to it” after the event had to be cancelled last year, according to Porter. “Last year we had to cancel because of Hurricane Sandy,” she said.

“The schools were closed and all the city offices were closed, and they would have opened for us,” she said. “But I was afraid we would lose power.”

Already carved pumpkins will be displayed on four big tables, organized by age group, according to Porter. Age groups include an “up to age five” category, six to 10 years old, 11 to 15 years old, and 16 or older.

The judging takes place on the visitor center’s outside patio, Porter said. It’s a “beautiful setting,” facing the river, she said.

The pumpkins will be judged, and then kids will be herded inside for the costume contest, Porter said. The kids will form a circle, again by age group, for judging.

Costumes and pumpkins are judged primarily on creativity and originality, but overall points are also awarded for other qualities like scary or beautiful, Porter said. The judges “try to judge on originality more than anything,” she said. “But there are so many store bought costumes.”

Sometimes a kid is just “perfect for the costume, you know,” she said. “It’s just the right costume for them.”

Porter enjoys the creativity many participants bring to the event. “It’s just amazing,” she said. “A lot of time and talent goes into some of these costumes.”

“One year we had an infant, like five months old, and they had dressed it in a little red satin lobster outfit, with the little claws and a little hood, and they put the kid in a great big stock pot,” she said. “It was hilarious.”

There is “one brother and sister, I can’t wait to see what they have on every year,” she said.

The winners will receive gift certificates to Walmart. “It doesn’t matter what it is, or how old they are” or how much money they make, everyone has a good time, according to Porter.

In addition to the highlights, a table will be set up with punch, cookies, and candy. Games will also be available, including traditional favorites like feeling “eyeballs” and “guts” – “regular kid stuff,” Porter said.

Spooky music will complete the ambiance and “some of us dress in costume,” she said.

The event has been going on for many years, according to Porter. “I have seen these kids grow up from little babies, and they come every year,” she said. “Many come back year after year.”

Porter’s last piece of advice for attendees? “Tell parents to bring their camera.”