YOUNGSTOWN – They say a cat has nine lives, though it took less than nine minutes for a smile to cross then cover 11-year-old Lillian Schindler’s face.

“It’s one of her favorite days,” Lillian’s mother, Barbara Bratton of Girard, said.

Bratton was referring to Halloween, and her daughter’s facial expression and body language told the story of someone who was quite pleased with the creativity evidenced on her pumpkin as she knelt next to it.

On Saturday, Lillian carved the pumpkin, with heart-shaped eyes and a cat-like appearance, at a gathering in a tent next to Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The popular botanical gardens also was the site for the annual Pumpkin Walk at Twilight event Sunday, which drew thousands of people of all ages to see numerous rows of pumpkins of varying sizes on display. Ideal weather likely contributed to the steady flow of attendees.

An estimated 500 carved jack-o-lanterns, which were lit close to dusk, lined several paths through the gardens, Lynn Zocolo, a Mill Creek MetroParks educator, said.

When it came to Halloween preparations, Lillian had shown no hint of procrastination. About nine months ago, the girl had her costume, which depicted Nezuko Kamado, a popular fictional character in the “Demon Slayer” series, said Bratton, who also came with her son, Andrew, 5, and daughter Stella, 7.

Curiosity may not have killed the cat, but it did seem to be the dominant expression Achilles Bennett, 1, of Youngstown, displayed at one point as he stood and looked at a row of brightly lit pumpkins along a paved path.

“I have four kids and I like to bring them every year,” Achilles’ father, Jacob Bennett, said.

For this family, Halloween likely will consist of traditional fare, with the kids engaging in a bit of trick-or-treating, Bennett added.

Zocolo said that Cardinal Mooney and Poland Seminary high school art students, along with some at Lordstown Elementary School, painted and carved the pumpkins ahead of Sunday’s family-friendly walk.

Nearly 300 carvers, a figure on par with last year, spent part of Saturday engaged in that activity, Zocolo added.

“The weather definitely helps (the attendance). It rained last year, but thousands of people still came,” Jaime Yohman, the park’s community engagement director, said.

The pumpkins, which arrived at the park last week, likely will be displayed for a few more days, she added.

Sunday’s festivities also included a professional carver, arts and crafts for children in the nearby Cushwa Education building, a photo booth and treats, courtesy of Kravitz Deli in the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center.

Providing the entertainment in the gazebo was the Shoe Shine Band, which offered its version of oldies tunes.

In addition, a Scarecrow Row was set up along one of the paths with 33 scarecrows, all of which local organizations and agencies decorated. Plans are to add more of them next year, Yohman said, adding that they will be up until Oct. 31.

The pumpkins for Sunday’s funfest were courtesy of a lease agreement the park has with Less & Less Farm in Canfield, she said.