Faith-based celebrations offer an alternative to trick-or-treating
Halloween is an evolving holiday that’s taking kids out of the haunted houses and into the holy ones.
Trunk or Treat events are often organized and held by churches as an alternative to the traditional door-to-door collecting of treats. Area churches have embraced the idea as a Christian alternative to Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve.
Families prepare their booths, typically in or around the trunk of their parked vehicle, then children can walk up to it, play a game and receive prizes or candy. Each trunk can be decorated to match any theme or in traditional Halloween fashion.
Trunk or Treat events provide a safe, fun place for children to treat-or-treat and also a place to get to know the people in your community. A number of local churches have organized events during the Halloween week.
A partial list includes:
- Bellaire Baptist Church Fall Fest 2013
Thursday, Oct. 31, at Bellaire South from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Fun for the entire family! Booths, games, face painting, candy, friends, costumes, food and so much more…that’s what you can expect! Plan now to attend and to bring the kids and the entire family.
4330 Panther Drive – Bossier City
- Benton United Methodist Church Trunk-or-treat
Wednesday, October 30, at 5:30 PM
Everyone is welcome! Come out for a safe treating experience.
Free hotdogs, chips & drinks, games, costume & trunk decorating contests, prizes and MORE!
4615 Palmetto Drive – Benton
- Central Assembly of God
Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m.
Join all the boys & girls, dressed in their favorite costumes, for our Annual Fall Fun Fair on. There will be tons of games, inflatables and candy!
700 U.S. 80 – Haughton
- Cypress Baptist Church Fall Festival
Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Free Trunk-or-Treat event – free food – inflatables – lots of candy – costume contest door prizes – bring your own bucket for candy!
471 Palmetto Road – Benton
- Elm Grove Baptist Church Family Fall Festival
Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Join us for fun, food and fellowship!
8180 Barksdale Boulevard – Bossier City
- Waller Baptist Church Trunk-or-Treat
Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6pm to 8pm
Our annual Trunk or Treat Fall Festival is a fun and free event for everyone.
456 Waller Avenue – Bossier City
But if you are one of the families that enjoys the door-to-door tradition of trick-or-treating, Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington is offering some basic safety tips to help ensure your Halloween outing is a fun and safe experience for families and children.
“Halloween is a fun and enjoyable night for our children, and my deputies will be concentrating their patrol duties in residential areas to help keep families and children safe,” said Sheriff Whittington. “I’m also asking motorists to be attentive to young trick-or-treaters and slow it down even more in residential areas with youngsters walking about on Halloween night. For residents passing out candy, be sure and leave your porch light on and remove obstacles from your sidewalks, porches or front yards that could cause children to trip and fall.”
Safety Tips:
- A responsible adult should always accompany children when they trick-or-treat.
- Children over the age of 12 responsible enough to go without parents should stay in groups and follow an agreed-upon route.
- Ensure costumes fit well so they don’t obscure visibility and so children won’t trip or fall.
- Use costumes that are flame retardant, reflective or have bright colors.
- Carry a flashlight or glowstick.
- Trick-or-treat in familiar neighborhoods, stay in well-lit areas and use sidewalks whenever possible.
- Teach children to bring treats home before eating them so parents can examine them.
- Teach children to never enter any home without you or without your permission, and only approach homes that are well-lit.
- Teach children to say NO or GET AWAY from any person or situation making them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.
- Call the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at (318) 965-2203 or your law enforcement agency about any suspicious activity or if candy is suspected of being tainted.
- Consider safe alternatives such as parties at home, school, church or community organized events.
