SALEM — So many kids and adults marched through the streets in costumes last night, you'd think they'd refused to grow up.

Salem's Peter Pan-themed "Never Neverland Parade" transformed the downtown into a Halloween street festival of live music and elaborate floats last night.

A parade of costumed Peter Pans, Tinker Bells and Captain Hooks stormed out of Shetland Park, down Derby and Front streets and through the Essex Street pedestrian mall — greeted each step of the way by loud, cheering revelers.

It drew townies and out-of-towners alike — some from halfway across the country.

Ron and Linda Gothard from Dallas came to Salem specifically for last night's parade.

They were wearing red flashing horns on their head.

"We've had a blast," said Linda Gothard, who opened her jacket to reveal a bright orange shirt with glitter and the image of a witch on the front. "We're crazy."

She was in good company.

Aside from the Peter Pan characters (which included at least one crocodile), spectators also saw an Elvis impersonator, a live KISS cover band and the popular Lawn Chair Drill Team from Beverly.

"We've never been to a Halloween parade in our lives," Bo Gelinas said.

Gelinas came with his wife Jude and daughter Rose from Rhinebeck, N.Y., about 60 miles south of Albany.

The family always wanted to celebrate Halloween in Salem. And although they won't be here for Halloween night, last night's parade was the next best thing.

"This is the best parade there is — except for Mardi Gras," said Jude, wearing a witch's hat and purple hair.

Last night's parade marked the official start of Haunted Happenings and ushered in a month full of pumpkin festivals, haunted attractions and, of course, the madness of Halloween night.

Above all, the parade was dominated by Salem schoolchildren and marching bands.

And the Peter Pan theme was inescapable.

Students from the Greenhouse School dressed as Peter Pan and carried signs reading "Never Grow Up," "To Neverland" and "Believe in Yourself."

A truck carrying the St. Joseph School float featured a sign proclaiming, "All you need is faith and trust and a little pixie dust."

Horace Mann School students marched behind a sport utility vehicle with a massive crocodile attached to the hood, chanting "Hor-ace Mann!"

"It's the best parade ever," said 10-year-old Timmy Reynolds, a Salem Youth Football player.

Reynolds and his teammates were part of the Bucket Brigade which marched and collected donations for next year's parade in orange plastic pumpkins.

"We get to wear our uniforms and help the parade raise money for next year," he said.

Before the parade, dozens of parade groups lined up at the Shetland Park parking lot, mixing nerves with the excitement of performing for hundreds of Halloween revelers.

"It's crazy," said Collins Middle School eighth-grader Marlena Udden, a flutist for the school band. "It's really fun though. ... There are so many people around. ... At first it's rather nerve-wracking, but then it gets really fun."

Afterward, a huge crowd gathered at Salem Common, where the music from the Peter Pan soundtrack blasted through speakers on the bandstand.

Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salemnews.com.