Fun Ideas For Fall

Trunk or Treat
Here’s an alternative to Halloween that’s catching on among churches across the U.S. Have church members park their cars all around the church parking lot with trunks facing the center. Encourage participants to decorate their trunks with pumpkins, bales of hay and other fall decorations. Be sure to distribute candy, evangelistic tracts and information about your church to all who pass by. You might even incorporate a few other fun events like face painting and carnival-type games. If there’s a chill in the air, you might provide cups of hot chocolate and apple cider.

Reverse Trick-or-Treating
It’s the one night of the year when folks are at home and eager to answer the door. Of course, residents will be surprised when they get treats instead of having to give them out. Have members go door-to-door to distribute bags of goodies containing candy, a witnessing tract, a mug, magnet or pencil printed with your church’s name and information, and an invitation to your church.

Fall Festival
For years churches have planned Fall Festivals to share Christ with children and their parents while providing a safe and fun alternative to scary Halloween events. Weather permitting, hold the festival outdoors in a city park or church yard. Provide games and activities for a variety of ages. Many church festivals offer carnival-type games, bounce houses, hay rides, cake/cupcake walk, bobbing for apples, face painting, pumpkin carving and live music. Be sure to have a registration table set up to obtain important contact information from attendees.
As part of your outreach, provide a free family photo for all who register. Near the entrance, set up a photo booth decorated with hay, mums, pumpkins, colorful leaves and maybe even a cute scarecrow. Recruit a couple of amateur photographers from your church to bring their tripods and digital cameras. Have a couple of volunteers to help set up the shots. Invite people to pick up prints in the church foyer the following Sunday or offer to email the photos. Be sure to include in the email service times and an invitation to visit your church.