Searching for faith-based fall festivals and Halloween alternatives? Visit these churches

In a growing group of faith-based fall festival and Halloween alternatives, one south Oklahoma church will offering its own blend of faith and candy-fueled fun at a special gospel-inspired outreach.

OKC Bible Methodist Church will once again host its "Gospel Trunk-or-Treat" on Oct. 31. The Rev. Darrell Stetler II said the idea came from the church's children's minister Elizabeth Hues and it has become a popular community outreach for the church, 1100 SW 57. Stetler, the church's senior minister, said at least one other Oklahoma City metro area church has adopted the idea, as well.

Stetler said this will be the church's 13th year to decorate car trunks based on Bible stories while giving away related candy. He said in the past, a church member decorated their car trunk to tell the story of David and Goliath and passed out Pop Rocks candy to children. He said another time, a trunk was decorated to tell the biblical story of creation and Milky Way candy bars were given out at that station "because God made all the stars in the Milky Way."

"We usually have several hundred people coming through, more when we have it on weekends," he said.

More: Trick-or-treat trails to spooky shows: Family-friendly Halloween events across Oklahoma

Stetler said he thought Hues' idea was creative and fun from the outset. He said he heard of many churches that want to reject Halloween, while some others go the opposite direction and embrace Halloween culture by doing things like a sermon series on zombies.

"I thought I'd like to do something in the middle," he said. "So take a holiday that everybody's talking about anyway, but do a different approach and make it about good news. It centers on the good news of the Bible."

Meanwhile, Edmond-based Life.Church will offer Neighborhood Fall Fests at Life.Church satellites across the Oklahoma City metro area. In addition to church services, the fall-themed festivities will include food, games and photo opportunities. Attendees will also have opportunities to learn more about the nonprofit organizations that Life.Church partners with to make a difference in the community.

“We love being a part of this community, and we’re looking forward to meeting even more of our neighbors,” Sam Marin, campus pastor of Life.Church Edmond, said in a news release.

Neighborhood Fall Fest will take place at Life.Church locations on Oct. 29. Additionally, some locations have service times on Oct. 28.

More: When is trick-or-treating in OKC? See the official dates and times for 2023

Churches' festivals and Halloween alternatives

The following churches are offering all festivals and Halloween alternatives. Events are free unless otherwise noted.

• St. Luke's Methodist Church, 222 NW 15, "Fall Festival of Treats," 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, trunk-or-treat, spooky organ concert, hot dog dinner, games, inflatables, costumes welcome. Information: http://www.life.church/locations.https://stlukesokc.org/event/56054/.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N Shartel, 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25, games, trunk-or-treat, geared for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Information: https://www.wpcokc.org/.

• St. Luke's Methodist Church-Edmond, 900 N Sooner Road, Fall Festival of Treats, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, hot dog dinner will be 5:15 to 6 p.m., trunk-or-treat with TV show themes. Information: https://stlukesokc.org/.

• Southern Hills United Methodist Church, 8200 S Penn Ave., Trunk-or-Treat, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25, dinner at 5:30 p.m., "Mummy and Me Dance," 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 29, music, fellowship, dancing. Information: https://shumcokc.org/.

• Hope Connection Church, 8309 S Santa Fe, Trunk-or-Treat, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 27, costumes welcome. Information: https://www.facebook.com/hopeconnectionchurch.

• Grace Episcopal Church, 600 N Mustang Road, "Trunk-or-Treat," 6 p.m. Oct. 27, costumes encouraged. Information: https://www.graceyukon.org/.

• Northeast Missionary Baptist Church, 3815 N Bartell Road, "Community Fall Festival," 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28. Information: https://www.facebook.com/nmbcchurch/.

• Life.Church, Oklahoma City metro area locations, Neighborhood Fall Fest, Oct. 28 and 29. Information: For times and locations go to http://www.life.church/locations.

• Church of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur, "Fall Fest," 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29, trunk-or-treat, face painting, inflatables, games, balloon artists, non-scary costumes welcome, bring treat bags to collect goodies, visitors are encouraged, but not required, to bring donations (cereal, canned meat, peanut butter, pasta, canned fruit, chunky soups, toilet paper) to benefit Skyline Urban Ministries. Information: https://servantokc.org/events.

• Acts II United Methodist Church, 4848 W Covell, Edmond, Trunk-or-Treat, 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 29, not-so-scary costumes welcome. Information: https://acts2umc.org/.

• St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 300 N Air Depot Blvd., Midwest, "Trunk-or-Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29, pumpkin patch open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 31. Information: https://www.stmatthew.org/special-events.

• Trinity Baptist Church, 1329 NW 23, "Fall Festival," 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29, candy, games, hotdogs. Information: https://www.facebook.com/trinityokc/.

• First Baptist Church of Moore, 301 NE 27, Moore, "Trunk-or-Treat," 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29, food, games. Information: https://firstmoore.com/.

• OKC Bible Methodist Church, 1100 SW 57, "Gospel Trunk or Treat," 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Information: https://okcbiblemethodist.org/; OKC Bible Methodist Church on Facebook.

• Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 Rockwell, "Festifall," 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, trunk-or-treat. Information: https://pcbc.tv/.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Faith-based Halloween events hosted by churches around Oklahoma