Hundreds of monsters, superheroes, goblins and princesses invaded LaGrange College’s academic quad on Thursday night for the annual fall festival.

Sponsored every year by the housing and student engagement offices, the event featured supervised trick-or-treating, a costume contest, carnival games and an inflatable bounce house.

Joe Strickland, south quad area manager for housing, called the festival a “huge success,” with more than 500 children and adults participating.

“Year after year, this event grows bigger and better,” he said. “Its success can be measured in the smiles and laughter of children, and the campus was filled with just that last night.”

The booths included games such as monster bean bag toss, inflatable zombie catch, candy corn bowling, witch hat ring toss and cornhole, as well as temporary tattoos and face painting.

“All of the games and booths were manned by our students,” Strickland said. “They also directed trick-or-treating in Hawkes Hall. Every year, we hear how much they love interacting with the kids. I think they have almost as much fun as the children.”

Nonperishable food items and monetary donations gathered during the festival will be donated to local food banks, he said.