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LADORA — Large spiders, animated skeletons and inflatable ghosts and witches filled the campgrounds at Lake Iowa near Ladora last weekend.

All but about 10 of the 122 campsites were occupied, said Iowa County Conservation Director Jacob Slings. About 60 children took part in the pumpkin rolling contest Saturday morning. They also painted pumpkins, played bingo and had their faces painted.

Eric and Nicole Bryan, of Montezuma, relax behind their banjo-playing skeletons at Lake Iowa. The Bryans decorated their campsite for Iowa County Conservation’s annual Creepy Camping Sept. 27. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

After the costume contest, Slings judged a chili cook-off, which was not part of the Iowa County Conservation activities, he said. The campers came up with that.

Seth Meyer and Scott Hamlin judged campsite decorations. They found Brier Gorsch’s the spookiest and Theresa Weiss’s the best use of theme.

Meyer and Hamlin also judged the costume contest. Brody Caskey, of Oxford, and Kylee Roberts, of Williamsburg, as murderous clowns, were winners in the scariest costume category. Jamison Caley and Chief the dog, as a cop and his K-9, were judged the cutest.

Brody Caskey, of Oxford, and Kylee Roberts, of Williamsburg, as murderous clowns, were winners in the scariest costume category during Lake Iowa’s Creepy Camping weekend. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

The best group costume certificate went to a tiny Cinderella, her mouse friends, fairy godmother and stepsisters.

The best child’s costume award was giving to Barrett Greve who rode an inflatable dinosaur, and the best adult costume was worn by Lanie Schutz, who was a large, pink Whoopee cushion.

Before the costume contest and trick-or-treating began, campers walked, rode bikes and drove up and down the road, examining Halloween decorations.

Dawn Pitcher, of Marengo, relaxes at her creepy campsite at Lake Iowa before trick-or-treating begins. Pitcher said hundreds of children stop by every year to see her husband’s extensive display which includes animated skeletons. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

Nicole and Eric Bryan relaxed outside their camper Saturday afternoon with a pair of banjo-playing skeletons sitting at their picnic table. They camp at Lake Iowa a few times a year, Nicole said, and they enjoy Creepy Camping every year.

“Usually we have our family out,” Nicole said. They were expecting their grandchildren, ages 2 and 11, for trick-or-treating through the campgrounds from 5-7 p.m.

Kal Schroder, of Shellsburg, is impressed with someone else’s costume as he waits his turn to show his own during Creepy Camping weekend at Lake Iowa. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

Nicole also enjoys handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. She picks up about 300 pieces of candy to hand out, she said. Some years she gives it all out; some years she has candy leftover.

“It’s fun to see the park filled up,” Nicole said.

Their campsite decorations evolve year after year, said Nicole. The first year they had the large spider. “The next year we got the little skeleton guys.” Then they added inflatables.

Dawn Pitcher, of Marengo, sat behind a picnic table full of candy, candy bowls and skulls. The yard in front of her camper was filled with skeletons — human and animal. Some were still. Others moved and moaned and bathed.

The Best Child Costume certificate is awarded to Barrett Greve during the Creepy Camping costume contest at Lake Iowa Saturday. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

A large, alien-like spider roared at passersby, and bloody limbs were strewn about.

“My husband lives for this stuff,” said Dawn. Bryon Pitcher was off on a bike ride to check out the decorations at other campsite. He does most of the buying, said Dawn. It takes all day to set up the display, she said.

It’s taken about four years to accumulate all the pieces, said Dawn. The animated spider is new this year.

Bryon made the puking skeleton. “It’ll turn green tonight when you can see it better,” Dawn said.

Hundreds of children visit their campsite every year, said Dawn. “They love it.”

Hazel Lillie and Willa Slings wait for the costume contest to begin Saturday at Lake Iowa. (Winona Whitaker/Hometown Current)

Dawn has two candy bowls that have motion-activated features. Children try to grab the candy without getting hit by a mummified hand. “They come in from all angles,” said Dawn. “It’s great.”

The Pitcher grandchildren, ages 2, 7, 9 and 12, would be out later to go trick or treating, said Dawn.