Harvesting Halloween
Photo Credit: Christy Citeno (also took slide show pictures)
People enjoying their time at the Mt. Zion Harvest Festival
Ashlyn Ownby, Reporter
November 9, 2011
Filed under Feature Page
Ghosts, goblins, witches, spider webs, and anything spooky or mysterious sparks the Halloween vibe. Many celebrate Halloween with a party or dress up and go trick or treating, “We unleash the children on the neighborhood to trick and treat,” says Art Teacher David Kessinger
However, some choose to go to harvest festivals, trunk- or- treats, or fall festivals usually held at a church or hosted by one. People go to them as an alternative to trick- or- treating, and some go just to have a good time after they have finished their trick- or- treating adventure.
“I don’t like to celebrate or encourage idolizing and worshiping something I don’t believe in,” says Mt. Zion Attendee Christy Citeno.
This reason is why Citeno and her family choose to attend Mt. Zion’s Harvest Festival.
Churches have Harvest Festivals to provide a safe alternative to people who don’t want to participate in trick or treating or Halloween says Mt. Zion Pastor Russ Muse. The churches call this big attraction a harvest festival because of the meaning of Halloween that dates back to the Druids, according to Muse.
“The reason we have a Harvest festival is to use the holiday to reach out to the community in a Christ-focused way,” says Simpsonville First Baptist Pastor Randy Harling.
Churches spend months planning Harvest Festivals, and then hours discussing its success.
“A follow-up meeting is scheduled the first week of November after the event. They discuss the things that went well. Inflatable games, outdoor lighting are reserved for the next year’s Harvest festival. The next meeting is scheduled in July to discuss the coming October 31st. Meetings are scheduled in September. Different aspects of the events are divided among team members. All the volunteering recruiting and advertising are done in October,” says Muse.
Churches say the time spent planning is worth it when people show up to enjoy the festival.
“I really enjoy seeing families have fun together and meeting families that don’t attend our church,” says Muse.
“I enjoy meeting people and ministering to them,” says Harling.
While parents like the safety of the festivals.
“I think it’s fun to dress up, I think it’s fun to go and see your friends pretending and having fun together, our harvest festival has a black light puppet show and it portrays a great message, the kids can have all kinds of fun on the games and rides and with candy but I want them to hear that message and without the Harvest Festival they wouldn’t and they wouldn’t have this safe way to have fun on Halloween,” says Citeno
Loading ...