Ghouls, ghosts and miniature candy filled the air on Oct. 31 as Redwood hosted its 14th annual Halloween contest.

Students and teachers dressed in costumes varying from zombies to teacher impersonations filled the amphitheater in hopes of winning one of five categories.

The competition was split into three individual categories: scariest, funniest and most original. Groups could compete in the best couple or the best group categories.

Physical education teacher Mike Dibley said the originality and creativity in the students’ costumes continues to surprise him each year. Students have the opportunity to compete in all categories and often participate in more than one.

For example, freshman Victoria Gioia, dressed as an elaborate skeleton, originally competed for the scariest costume. After the judges selected another student as the winner, she renamed her costume to the future Miley Cyrus, and re-entered as “the most creative.”

Staff members also competed as departments for the best group costume.

Wielding a shining golf club, the gold-paint coated Dibley participated in the winning “Hall of Fame” theme for the Physical Education department.

This year’s participation far surpassed last year numbers, which were decimated by the San Francisco Giants’ World Series parade.

The winner of the scariest costume category was the sophomore “Boy with One Eye;” the winners of the funniest costume category were the sophomore Jehovah’s Witnesses; the winner of the most creative costume category was the freshman “Future Miley Cyrus;” the winners of the group category were a group of seniors dressed as colorful tourists; and the winners of the best couple category were two seniors as “Marin moms.”

Winners received pumpkin baskets full of candy and were crowned in front of the audience.