OCEANSIDE — Trick-or-treaters dressed as witches, bumblebees and princesses may have met their match at the Civic Center Library on Oct. 29 when the Patchwork Players told of spooky urban legends.

The night began on the patio outside the Community Room where library volunteers dressed as some of the ghostly legends greeted the audience. “Bloody Mary” warned children not to look in the mirror that showed her reflection and “La Llorona” stood crying by the fountain where cupie dolls floated face down.

Halloween oral storytelling has taken place at the Oceanside Public Library for more than 20 years said Suzanne McGowan, library youth services manager. The night’s storytelling draws on urban legends from all different areas, McGowan said.

Patti Christensen and James Nelson-Lucas — also known as The Patchwork Players — told creepy tales of local legends. Set at a bus stop on “Main Street USA,” one person waiting for the bus began to share a scary story, then slowly slipped into acting out the character they were describing, until a fellow rider started a new tale.

The Patchwork Players wove local landmarks into the legends —a man from Encinitas ate himself down to his teeth, a girl from Poway High School hitch hiked a ride home on the anniversary of her fateful death, and the notorious Mary Worth appears in the mirror if you say “Bloody Mary” 13 times.

Nelson-Lucas said other performances by The Patchwork Players are less creepy, but during Halloween everyone wants scary stories. Christensen added that urban legends are a favorite of teens. “They’re stories kids tell each other,” she said.

Angie Moren, 12, said the most believable story was the one about the girl from Vista High School who was almost buried alive after she fainted from wearing a prom dress that smelled of formaldehyde. The story goes that the girl regained consciousness and bolted upright in her coffin. A pawnshop owner later confessed he bought the dress that the girl purchased from him from the town gravedigger.

Roxana Purtee, 7, said she was not frightened by the tales and enjoyed the story telling, especially the event’s ending. The storytelling duo built suspense and excitement as they intertwined words, wishing the audience a safe night and reminding everyone: “Don’t … be … frightened!”