10 Fun & Faith-Filled Halloween Ideas for Your Church

Halloween is one of the most ancient holidays, and is celebrated in various forms throughout the world. 

In Mexico, Halloween kicks off the three-day Dia De Los Muertos, an event commemorating familial ancestors. In England, Halloween falls less than one week before Guy Fawkes Day, a holiday celebrating a failed assassination attempt of the King in the 17th century. And in America, Halloween often coincides with carving pumpkins, harvest festivals, and even hayrides–a true start to the fall season. 

Halloween may have its roots in paganism, but today, it’s widely treated as a secular holiday celebrated with harmless traditions including trick or treating, bobbing for apples, and dressing up in costume. 

That being said, many churches will want to throw their own Halloween- or fall-themed event–a way for church members to celebrate the holiday without any of the spooky stuff. 

Here are 10 ideas for celebrating Halloween–or the fall season–at your church. 

Download “Halloween Party” graphics for your church. 

10 Ideas for Halloween at Your Church

1. Host a “Trunk or Treat” in the Parking Lot

“Trunk or Treat” is a fun, community-oriented alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. 

Instead of going house to house, kids go from “car to car” in a church parking lot or other open space. Each family brings their vehicle, and if their trunk allows, they can open up the back, hang decorations, and offer candy, drinks, or healthy treats. 

Here are some fun ideas and tips for a successful “Trunk or Treat” event at your church:

• Encourage families with trucks and minivans to participate. Big open trunks are ideal for “setting up shop.”
• Assign a few volunteers to manage security. Trunk or Treat should be a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, but you’ll still want a number of adults who can keep watch. 
• Run a costume contest. Most creative Halloween costume wins!
• ….or run a car decorating contest. Most creatively decorated vehicle wins!
• Market your event. Make sure your community knows about your event. Here are free graphics to promote Trunk or Treat. 
• Don’t forget the lights! If your event is in the evening, make sure you’re prepared with lighting. String lights, pumpkins with candles, and plenty of flashlights ensure that there’s enough visibility for an awesome Trunk or Treat. 

Finally, make sure there’s something for everyone. While little ones will love dressing up and collecting their favorite candy, think about serving hot cider for the adults and teenagers and creating space for chit-chatting (a portable fire pit and beach chairs work great even in a parking lot!)

Here are some more great ideas for Trunk or Treat from The Pioneer Woman. 

2. Organize a Church Harvest Festival

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned harvest festival? Especially after a long, hot summer, your church members are likely excited to celebrate all things “fall”–pumpkin everything, cozy blankets and flannels, a kick-off to the Christmas season.  

A harvest festival is a perfect event to gather the community on Halloween night or over Halloween weekend. Depending on the size of your church and your available resources, you can go over the top with hayrides, live music, and food trucks, or you can keep it small and intimate with corn hole and home-baked goods. 

Ideas to include:

• Costume-friendly or “fall flair” dress code (flannels, boots, beanies).
• Face painting booths run by volunteers.
• Bounce houses for kids.
• Live music from your worship band or local musicians.
• Fall-themed photo booths or hay bale seating areas.

A harvest festival is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to your community and invite friends, neighbors, and co-workers to a church event. Empower your church members to invite others with paper postcards and social media posts they can share. 

3. Plan a Halloween-Themed Bake Sale

Most of your church members are probably more interested in the “treat” part of “trick or treat.” That being said, planning a Halloween- (or harvest-) themed bake sale can be a fun way to celebrate the season and give your at-home bakers a chance to show off their skills. 

Not only that, but you can use the bake sale as an opportunity to raise funds for a mission trip, new building fund, or church member in need. 

Here are a few strategies for hosting a successful bake sale:

• Use a signup spreadsheet to prevent duplicate dishes.
• Offer allergen-free sections with clear labeling.
• Host it outside under a tent after Sunday service for better visibility.

A bake sale is a great way to reach out to the community. If you’re hosting your bake sale in a community-friendly area, make sure to provide handouts or paper postcards that tell people who your church is and when and where they meet. 

4. Launch a Candy or Canned Food Drive

Swap the candy collection for a compassionate cause. Organize a drive for:

• Canned goods
• School supplies
• New toys for holiday gift giving
• Toiletries or blankets for local shelters

Use this as an opportunity to teach kids generosity and serve the broader community.

5. Hold a Costume Contest 

From silly to spooky to superhero, costume contests are a great way to build excitement.

Setup tips:

• Have clear categories (Most Creative, Best DIY, etc.)
• Invite all age groups to participate.
• Offer gift cards, church swag, or candy bundles as prizes.

You can host this during youth group, Sunday service, or as part of a mid-week event.

6. Pumpkin Carving (or Painting) Party 

People have been carving pumpkins, or Jack O’ Lanterns, during the fall season for centuries. The practice of carving pumpkins originated in Irish myth, and remains to this day as a fun, creative activity that builds up to the end of October. Here are a few tips for hosting an evening of pumpkin-carving at your church. 

• Carving stations for older kids and adults
• Painting stations for young children
• Provide glow sticks or votive candles for display
• Roast pumpkin seeds for an added treat

7. Set Up a Fall Tournament 

If your community is competitive or active, host a flag football game or cornhole tournament.

Fun ideas:

• Create teams by ministries (e.g., youth vs. worship team)
• Offer a kids’ version or 60+ bracket
• Serve warm drinks for spectators

This is perfect for engaging older youth, young adults, and families alike.

8. Make Caramel Apples Together

Caramel apples are an old-fashioned treat that are fun to make and even more fun to eat. To celebrate the season, consider hosting a caramel apple night with kids and their parents, or plan the event for a women’s ministry night. 

To make caramel apples, you’ll need plenty of green apples, heavy cream, butter, sugar, and wooden skewers. You’ll also want to provide a variety of toppings, including oreo cookie crumbs, nuts, sprinkles, and toffee (and tools for cleanup!)

Follow this simple caramel apple recipe for sweet success. 

9. Host a Storytelling or Testimony Night

Fall and Halloween are often synonymous with gathering around a campfire and telling spooky stories. What if your church did the same thing–but instead of ghost stories, you told stories of men and women who believed in God’s promises and saw Him move in powerful ways? 

Voice of the Martyrs is a wonderful resource with incredible stories of faith from missionaries and followers of Jesus from all over the world. Drawing on these stories or stories from your own community, you can host a night of testimonies for your entire community. Encouraging young people to come can be an especially powerful way to impact the youth. 

Campfire optional, of course. But it does make for a great atmosphere!

10. Go on a Fall Church Retreat

Looking for something deeper and more immersive? Host a fall retreat in cabins or a cozy lodge.

Ideas to incorporate:

• Worship nights and devotional time
• Outdoor games, s’mores, and fall activities
• Vision casting and prayer for the coming year

Make the Most of Fall with Tithe.ly

Planning your Halloween or fall-themed events is easier with the right tools. Tithe.ly offers everything from event registration to media and payments:

• Tithe.ly ChMS for team communication and event planning
• Tithe.ly Media for beautiful graphics and flyers
• Tithe.ly Events for smooth RSVPs and sign-ups

Learn more about how Tithe.ly can help you manage and grow your church here.  

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