FREDERICKTOWN — The ending of the 2008 Tomato Show Lip Sync contest was a thriller, all right. A dozen dancers and syncers decked out in elaborate costumes and calling themselves Creatures of the Night recreated the famous video for Michael Jackson’s song “Thriller,” delighting the crowd and steamrolling to victory in numerous categories. The crowd demanded, and received, an encore performance at the end. Jason Woods portrayed Michael Jackson energetically, moonwalking across the stage to shrieks from the audience. Michael Hunter portrayed the “Graveyard Ghoul” voiced by Vincent Price in the original recording. Zombies joined them on stage and overflowed onto the road in front of the stage. The zombies were played by Sheila Mills; Kathy, Drew and Brianna Boggs; Evelyn, Devon and Mikalyn Hunter; Katy Meyer; Demi Marshall and Elesha Hayes. They won first place for Group/Age 16 and Older, Best Theme, Best Costumes and the Director’s Award.

The Solo or Duet/Up to Age 8 category started the evening with lively renditions. Abby Stevens took third place with her version of “God’s Big Back Yard,” and Morgan Mowery took second with a charming rendition of “Break Out” which included props. But, first place went to Aislynn Ray’s high-energy miming of “Our Song.” The only entry in the group category of the division was Emily Beal, Kaylee Cubbage and Elyse Newell performing the Hannah Montana hit “Best of Both Worlds,” but their elaborate and creative representation drew squeals of delight from the audience, easily justifying their first place finish.

The 9- to 11-age level saw a lot of contestants. In the Solo/Duet category, Zoe Parker came in fourth place for her performance of “Too Cool.” Brittany Denton offered another version of “Our Song,” earning third place. Second place went to Alezo Mayo for her rendition of “Picture to Burn.” Hayley Allbright and Selina Mulkey took first place honors with a sharp, synchronized take of “Fly on the Wall.” In the group category, Evan Swihart, Ramey Turner, Harley Beeman, Ali Frazier, Mackenzie Otto and McKenzie Haxton took third place with “That’s Just the Way We Roll.” Second Place was won with a version of “We Rock” performed by Drezden Young, Cassandra Vaughn and Hannah Vaughn. Lauren Richdale, Elyse Swihart and Cassidy Frazier took the first place award with a fun version of “Girls Night Out.”

Miriam Morris and Aidan Brown took second place in the Solo/Duet category for 12 to 15 year olds with an intricate and accomplished dance/sync to the song “Spirit Thing,” but first place went to another outstanding presentation that combined lip-syncing and dance when Kaitlyn Phillips and Leah Paxton did the song “Pure.” Miriam Morris and Aidan Brown were joined by David Morris, Grace Childers and Noah Childers to recreate the famous 1970s Coca-Cola commercial “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” winning both first place in the group and second place in the Best Theme category.

The 16 and Older level saw three crowd-pleasing performances. Jon Yoder earned third place with a committed rendition of “Eight Second Ride.” Young Morgan Mowery was joined by supporting fly puppeteering from her mother, Tami, for a cute version of “Fly on the Wall.” First Place went to a pair of sisters billing themselves only as “Sibling Rivalry.” They gamely performed a charming version of the song “Popular,” even though one sister, suffering from a volleyball injury, had to hobble on to stage without her crutches, smiling through her pain.

When “Creatures of the Night” took the stage at the end of the competition, they announced that they were honoring this year’s Tomato Show theme “Lost in Time” by performing “Thriller” in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Michael Jackson album’s release. They dedicated their performance to Jackson’s nose, “which has also been lost in time.”