By Jasmine Dellinger | 12 years old, is a contributor to LincolnHerald.com

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Halloween night brought spooky decorations, creative costumes and plenty of trick-or-treaters to neighborhoods throughout Lincolnton on October 31. For me, the evening was even more special because Halloween is also my dad's birthday.

This year, I created my own Halloween character called the Blood Moon Ripper. My costume featured a black cape and an animal skull mask that I painted with red markings to resemble blood. I wanted something mysterious and frightening that would stand out from the usual costumes.

We started the night riding in a golf cart from house to house, collecting candy and enjoying the decorations. Some homes featured skeletons and glowing lights while others had elaborate displays that looked like scenes from a haunted movie. One yard had two skeletons standing beside a funny sign that read, "Our Final Words... It'll Only Take A Few Months."

Along the way, we encountered people dressed in all kinds of costumes. Some were scary while others were funny or creative. We saw a couple dressed as cotton candy vendors, a man wearing a colonial-era outfit and several frightening characters at a brightly decorated Halloween attraction. I enjoyed taking pictures of the interesting people and displays we encountered.

We also stopped by the Lincolnton Fire Department, where firefighters posed for pictures with children in their Halloween costumes. It was nice seeing members of the community taking part in the fun.

Later, we met up with friends and continued trick-or-treating on foot through their neighborhood. One of my friends was dressed as Darla from Finding Nemo while her sister was dressed as an angel. We collected more candy and even stopped at a playground to have some fun.

After spending time with my friends, we headed home. I changed into comfortable clothes, turned on "IT :Welcome to Derry" and enjoyed some of my Halloween candy. I organized the rest in my snack drawer to save for another day.

Looking back, Halloween wasn't just about costumes and collecting candy. It was about spending time with family and friends while seeing how much creativity and excitement people throughout Lincolnton brought to the event.

Celebrating my dad's birthday made the night even more memorable. For a few hours, I got to become my made up character and experience Halloween through the people, decorations and neighborhoods we visited.

And the best part? I still have plenty of candy left!

Now I'd love to hear about your Halloween adventures! What was your favorite costume you saw this year and where was your favorite place to go trick-or-treating around Lincolnton? Share your experiences in the comments below. I'd love to hear how everyone celebrated Halloween!