Light Night: Sharing God’s Light at Halloween
“How should the church respond to Halloween?” is a question many of us have faced in children’s, youth, and families’ ministry. For years, I largely ignored it—until my children began asking why they couldn’t join in. What they really wanted was simple: sweets!
After prayer, reflection, and conversations with other families, our first Light Party was born. It quickly grew into a much-loved annual event, attracting families from both inside and outside the church, offering a joyful, faith-filled alternative to Halloween.
When Covid hit, we didn’t want to lose the chance to bring people together. Using resources from Parish Mission Support, we organised a Light Trail, church members decorated light-themed windows, and families followed a map around the community, collecting treats and reflecting on Bible verses. This outward-facing event gave the church a visible, welcoming presence and helped us connect with adults as well as children.
From this grew our current format: Light Night. Today, it combines two hours of crafts, prayer activities, glitter tattoos, face painting, play zones, and refreshments in church, alongside a trail of “Light Stops” in the community. Families pick up their map and pack, filled with sweets, glow sticks, a quiz linked to Bible verses, and invitations to future events, before heading out to explore. Some windows include themed displays, others a box of sweets, and even a hot chocolate stop!
Families return full of excitement, with completed maps and great stories to share. Light Night has become a key invitational event: a safe and fun celebration, a natural space for families to invite friends, and a chance for us as a church to share God’s message of light over darkness, love over fear, and life over death.
If you want to have a go at this yourself? Download the Light Trail resource to get started!