Under the night sky, lit up in pink by the northern lights, people gathered around a campfire for songs, stories and smores during a Halloween bonfire hosted by the Wareham Land Trust and the Wareham Free Library.

At the bonfire held Thursday, Oct. 10 at Whitlock's Landing, a conservation area in Wareham protected by the land trust, families listened to local entertainer Jackson Gillman sing spooky songs while getting everyone in the Halloween spirit.

Membership Chair for the land trust Lori Benson said this event is a way to get families out on the land they work to preserve.

"We try to make [the land trust] a friendly organization that families can feel apart of," said Benson. "Families are really the ones that go on our trails and trails are great for kids. We want to connect families to the land trust."

Because the land trust hosts this event on one of their conservation areas, Benson hopes more people will make good use of the land.

"It makes them realize we have property and they can go and enjoy it," said Benson. "They can get out in nature, get off the computer and go out and take a walk."

Benson added this event is not just for promoting the land trust but is also something fun for families to enjoy.

Gillman sang about falling leaves, skeletons, spiders and everything Halloween while teaching children the importance of safety during trick or treating.

While Gillman was the main act, members of the audience, especially children, helped him sing, perform American Sign Language and roar like a T-Rex.

"There's parts where the kids are screaming and moving around and there's parts where things are really quiet," said Gillman. "When it gets really quiet I know everybody is on board and they are wondering what happens next and that is a very joyful thing for me."

Gillman has been performing since 1978 and has seen how happy these kinds of gatherings can make people.

"When people sing together and laugh together it builds a community and makes people feel happy," said Gillman. "I think it's kind of the most healing, peaceful thing people can do together."