Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama welcomed area students and children of military families Sunday to celebrate Halloween at the White House . Joined by his wife , Michelle , the president handed out treats to the gaggles of costumed children gathered on the lawn . Neither the president nor his wife dressed up . The trick-or-treaters -- ranging in age from 6 to 14 -- were from schools in the Washington , D.C. , Maryland and Virginia areas , the White House said . They were greeted by a boisterous brass band and by adults dressed up as quintessential Halloween characters like Dracula and Frankenstein . Participants were given M & M 's , a sweet dough butter cookie and dried fruit . Fake spider webs and bats decorated the portico of the White House , while pumpkins spotted the yard . The celebration was a light-hearted break for Obama , who has been crisscrossing the country in full campaign mode ahead of Tuesday 's congressional elections . At stake are all 435 House seats and 37 of the 100 Senate seats , along with almost 40 gubernatorial races . His Democratic party is poised to lose seats in both chambers , and perhaps its House majority . Speaking at a Cleveland State University rally earlier Sunday , Obama urged people to get out and vote .
Students and children of military are trick - or - treating on the president 's lawn . They are given M & M 's , a sweet # ##nut , and fresh fruit . Obama does not dress up for Halloween .