If you are a Christian parent, you may have conflict over how you can allow your children to enjoy the Halloween holiday season without compromising your values. The good news is that there are many options available today if you know where to look. From church harvest festivals to neighborhood parties, this page will illustrate how to celebrate Halloween with Christian values.
Tips
Most church festivals forbid scary costumes. A good alternative is superhero or TV show based outfits.
Looking for a unique craft? Give this How to Put Your Face on a Virtual Pumpkin page a try.
If you need more creative craft ideas, kaboose and DLTK offer a ton of creative projects.
Make sure to research hell houses well in advance to make sure the content is in line with your own beliefs. The imagery and acts presented at them vary immensely.
Introduction
The first step you will need to take is to do a little research the weekend before Halloween night. Many events will actually take place during the week. To locate what's available in your town and local areas, try the following media outlets.
- Neighborhood newsletters
- Local Newspapers
- Community websites
Life Church Harvest Festival
In this video, you will get a glimpse into a church harvest festival held on October 31, 2008. This was a pretty extensive event with face painting, inflatable games and trick or treating for the kids. They didn't leave the grown ups out of the fun. Towards the end of the clip, you watch the adults playing bingo and going off for a hayride into the night.
Check Local Media for Events
During this time of the year, you'd be surprised how many various venues host family friendly events. Some performance halls, college campuses and malls feature G and PG rated Halloween movies. It's not uncommon for them to have a candy giveaway as well.
Less often, you may be able find a Christian hell house. These controversial fright show attractions claim to give the attendant a view of what happens to those who do not walk the Christian path. Be aware that they can depict disturbing acts and aren't appropriate for anyone under teen age.
Find a Church Harvest Festival
In recent years, Christian churches have sought ways to attract families into their doors on the spookiest night of the year. To accomplish this, they offer many activities that are attractive to both kids and parents alike. It's a safe environment filled with food, games, trick or treating and raffles. Usually, the overall theme centers around harvest instead of ghosts and goblins. Some festivals even bring in carnival rides and musical acts.
Host Your Own Party
A great alternative for Christian families is to plan their own celebration. It's an excellent way to socialize and fellowship with other believers while still giving kids the opportunity to enjoy themselves. The party host can also set up games and crafts for the guests. Pipe cleaner spiders, pumpkin carving and cupcake decorating are some of the fun projects that could be included. Traditional holiday standards such as apple bobbing, candied apples and candy bags are classic finishing touches for an exciting family and friends gathering.
