Halloween activities
Suggested activities
Start at a local church for a service
This could be the central and only activity for the evening and could end in a children’s Eucharist and or Baptismal responses
Use supporting Liturgical resources from the National Worship Development Officer or from Halloween Choice
Build on ‘being a saint’, and what it means to be a modern-day ‘saint’. This is an opportunity for a collection to be held for The Children's Society.
Procession
Walk from church to another building, i.e. another church or a community hall, or into and around the church.
Make it a candle or lantern-lit procession, involving the community in spreading the light during this special evening and joining in the procession of saints singing ‘When the Saints go marching in’.
There is an opportunity to incorporate points of local interest points for educational purposes.
End at another venue for a party
A party could be held with ‘bonfire-like’ food, such as bangers and mash or bakes potatoes. Quizzes, puzzles and games with underpinning educational aims could be held. Visit Church House Bookshop for ideas for light- themed or All Saints parties.
All Saints parties are a great excuse to look at the lives of some of the more obscure, as well as popular saints. The party could be based around a church’s or school’s own patronal saint, a particular saint or the lives of many saints. Food and games could be linked into the theme, eg baking ‘halo’ cakes.
There could be a ‘Best Costume’ prize.
Note: the above suggestions can be tailored according to your resources, situation and capacity.
Activity for schools
The idea is simple - plan an act of worship or an assembly that allows children to make a donation to the Children's Society and have some fun.
Children can dress up as their modern-day hero or ‘saint’ and a procession could be organised as part of your worship and assembly, with candles or glow sticks provided to add to the wonder and excitement. You could also make the donation box fun by downloading our donation box template and print onto card. Ask children to cut, fold and glue their box together and take home to fill with their treat (money) for The Children's Society.