Many Christian youth groups struggle for acceptable activities to do in October. Some congregations do not feel that celebrating Halloween is a good idea, while others hold a celebration in order to offer an alternative to the youth at their church. Whatever your congregation's views, October activities can be good outreach opportunities for the church in the community.
Harvest Festival
Instead of having a Halloween party, your church group can hold a harvest festival. This can be a carnival-type atmosphere, which offers kids and youth the opportunity to play games and earn prizes such as candy and stickers for participating. A good harvest festival will have activities that appeal to young children as well as to teenagers. Consider scheduling events such as a pie-eating contest. Face-painting booths can help to discourage children from wearing costumes. You can also offer a dinner inside the church's kitchen.
Barn Dance and Hayride
Plan a youth dance and hayride at a nearby farm. This activity can be coordinated with other area youth groups to have a higher turnout rate. You can hold a short devotional before the hayride to the barn where the dance will take place. Make sure that you have plenty of chaperons and that there is enough lighting on the floor, and go over the music selection with the deejay before the dance begins, so that you do not have any questionable music playing. You can plan the dance on Halloween night so that the youth have an alternative to participating in traditional Halloween activities.
Service Opportunities
Hold a harvest food drive and then visit the local food pantry and volunteer. Most food banks will appreciate receiving the extra donations in the fall. Once you have collected the food, your youth can go and volunteer at the food pantry by stocking shelves and preparing boxes for pick-up or delivery. Volunteering at a local soup kitchen is another great way to do community outreach and teach your youth to help others. Planning service activities where you volunteer at the same organizations will help the youth to form positive relationships with those they are serving.
