Safe alternatives to trick or treating

Michele Marr

Thanks to a half-dozen local churches, there will be no shortage of

safe, sweet and entertaining alternatives to trick-or-treating

door-to-door this Halloween.

Just off Beach Boulevard at Ellis Avenue and Chapel Lane, Faith

Lutheran Church is inviting families in the community to join it for

the second annual Fun Family Halloween Festival, a coordinated effort

of the congregation’s outreach committee, youth group and preschool.

“We had such a great turn out last year that we said, ‘Why don’t

we do that again,’” said Barbara Olson, the church’s office manager.

For three hours Friday night, they will serve up a

barbecue-grilled hot dog dinner and plenty of candy along with a

cakewalk and other games, a moon bounce, a costume contest, crafts

and face painting in the hay-strewn play yard outside the church’s

preschool.

Near Newland Avenue on Garfield Avenue Calvary Baptist Church will

present its “Under the Big Top,” with jugglers, a ventriloquist, pony

rides, games and candy for the children to enjoy.

At the north end of the city, on McFadden Avenue, at the Harvest

Festival at Calvary Chapel of Huntington Beach, there will be good

food, pony rides, a bounce house, a paintball booth, an assortment of

games and a raffle.

Also on McFadden, Stonebridge Christian Church will sponsor its

Halloween Festival at the roller hockey rink where the church holds

its Sunday services. Adults can participate in a chili cook-off while

their children play games and those who bring their skates can skate

free. And there will, of course be candy.

On Main Street near the heart of Downtown, the First Christian

Church of Huntington Beach will hold its annual Fall Carnival

featuring games, a pre-school play zone, laser tag, big wheels and

peddle-car races, and the carnival’s extremely popular candy buffet.

Next door to Faith Lutheran Church on Chapel Lane, St. Wilfrid of

York Episcopal Church will present a Halloween party called “Trunk or

Treat,” sponsored by the parish’s Special Needs Children’s Ministry

and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, a men’s service group.

The event is particularly planned for children with special needs

and their siblings and friends. Parishioners bring candy treats and

toy favors to give to the children from the trunks of their

Halloween-decorated cars. Since the parking lot is flat and the

church has handicapped-accessible restrooms the party is easy for a

child with a disability to maneuver and enjoy.

“It’s easier than [parents] trying to explain to a child with a

disability why they can go to this house but not that house,

upstairs,” said the Rev. Karen Wojan, the Children’s and Family

Ministries Director.

Men from the Brotherhood of St. Andrew are setting up good

lighting to make sure the walk from car to car in the parking, which

will be festive with pumpkins and leaves, is safe and easy.

So if your family is looking for some good, old-fashioned

Halloween fun, there are some good parties in town and, thanks to

these generous congregations, you’re invited.