In any normal year, almost every children’s minister I know would be eagerly planning Trunk or Treats and Fall Festivals. Something about pumpkin spice hitting the local coffee shop, fall sales at the favorite craft store, and a stocked candy aisle scream, “it’s time to gather my church family and celebrate fall!”

Even though pumpkin spice and all the things of fall are around us, we remain socially distanced. This year is not normal. Not by a long shot. So what are we going to do about our fall church activities?

Recently, a large group of children’s ministers gathered on Zoom and brainstormed ideas for their Fall Festivals. We believe that there is hope in numbers and this group had some great plans (and a lot of hope)! You may watch the recorded Zoom call here (provided by Hope Network Ministries). If you don’t have time to watch the Zoom call, keep scrolling. I’ve taken a few notes and I’m sharing those below. And, another big thanks to all the children’s ministers that shared!

Social Distancing Tricks

Beyond anything else, our biggest challenge is to provide social distancing at an event that typically draws our largest crowds! Recognizing that we may have to downsize our typical event, there are some things that could help you host a solid Fall Festival, while maintaining safe distances.

1. Create “stand here” placeholders for the parking lot. How? What could you do with duct tape, rope, cones, cardboard, or signs on a stand?
2. What about using Sign Up Genius to schedule time slots for families to attend the event?
3. Think drive-through. More on this below.
4. What day of the week will you hold your event? Some days will draw a bigger crowd than others.

Socially Distanced Trunk or Treat Ideas

In case you’ve never seen a trunk or treat before, it is pretty simple. Church members circle up their cars in the church parking lot, decorate their cars, and hand out candy. Of all the events I led as children’s minister, this is simple, cheap, and well-attended by church members and the community.

But, can we provide a trunk or treat and social distance at the same time? Modifications are definitely in order and here are some ideas:

1. Pre-packaged candy is a must!
2. Think non-traditional Trunk or Treat. Perhaps families could drive through the parking lot, with decorated cars lining each side, and small bags of candy handed to the families.
3. Instead of using decorated cars, a minister plans to create cut-out houses as their booths (a simply fabulous idea!)  This provides an opportunity for more space between each booth and designated standing areas.
4. Or, a car decorating contest might work. Could families decorate their cars and drive through the parking lot lined by church members that “vote” on the best cars? Or, maybe the families drive their cars through the parking lot and vote on the best decorated parked car? Either way, it is interactive.
5. Some churches participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project by providing non-food giveaways for their trunk or treaters. For a drive through Trunk or Treat, a teal ribbon could be tied to the car antenna, signaling the type of treat bags that car should receive.

Socially Distanced Fall Festival Ideas

Fall Festivals include games, bouncy houses, food, and more. Some churches combine Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat and others choose just one. Regardless, Fall Festivals are a big deal, cost a lot of money, and usually draws a huge crowd. So, assuming that crowd control is solved, is there any hope for Fall Festivals this year?

Here are a few ideas …

1. Are there games that require materials that can be quickly disinfected? For example, rings for ring toss could be disinfected between use?
2. Are socially distanced games an option? One children’s minister created games out of pool noodles and swimming pool nets on long handles.
3. Drive-through Fall Festival. Carefully select games that could be played through car windows or truck beds. Or, is it possible that kids could get out of their car at each game?

Family Movie Night

In lieu of socially distanced festivals, some ministers are opting for a family movie night. Grab a blow up screen from Amazon (like this one), a family friendly movie, and a sound system and you got a great fall family event. Encourage families to bring lawn chairs and blankets and watch the movie. Or, purchase an FM transmitter so families could stay in their car and watch the movie. Individually bagged popcorn could be served to families. Finally, with pre-packaged s’mores supplies and roasting sticks brought from home is pandemic friendly and a fall favorite.

Thinking Outside the Box

Given the unusual circumstances of a pandemic, it might be time to think outside the box in order to host a fall event. Have you thought about any of the following:

1. Share the responsibility with another church or school. What if you pool your resources in order to host your event? A socially distanced event will require additional space, volunteers, and funds. Pool your resources to make your event manageable.
2. Create a new event or new purpose for your event. Several ministers were considering food drives with their event. For instance, bring a plastic pumpkin basket stuffed with supplies for the homeless.
3. If you hire actors, such as your resident spidey-man, build a small platform and create a roped off area to socially distance from the actor and still bring joy and excitement to your family.

What is your church doing this Fall? Share in the comments and help a minister out!