13 Ideas for Your Trunk or Treat or Fall Fun Outreach (Even if it’s Virtual)

A scary start to 2020 has many families ready to skip fall activities. Does this mean you have to forget Trunk or Treat or your October outreach? No! Believe it or not, your church has the potential to reach more families than ever. Even if your club is not meeting in person or your church is not sponsoring a traditional event, you can still create a fun fall outreach opportunity with the 13 ideas below.

Hosting Trunk or Treat or other fall fests, and giving out candy and treats is a seasonal tradition for many churches. Your congregation and community look forward to this time and other fall activities you provide! Because your event could be the only fun option kids in your neighborhood have, it’s a can’t-miss outreach opportunity! The best part: it offers ideal scenarios for social distancing.

As always, check local and national COVID-19 guidelines for the latest advice on gathering. You may find you need to make adjustments, such as limiting the number of visitors you have at one time or going completely virtual.

13 Ideas for a Great Trunk or Treat or Fall Fun Event

1. Send an email with an invitation to your event, along with a few ways families can participate virtually. Add a link to Awana Clubs+ activities for fun at home.

2. Before the event, ask kids who won’t be attending in person to send in a picture of themselves with their costume on, scarecrow decorated or pumpkin carved—whatever activity your club is doing. Print out the photos or use a projector to broadcast an outdoor slideshow during the event. If you’re live streaming, kids will enjoy seeing themselves “there,” even though they’re watching from home. For a virtual event, use a photo program or PowerPoint to make a visual display.

3. When organizing your Trunk or Treat, make your car and costume themes uplifting. Focus on images of light, victory, superheroes, and people from the Bible.

4. Hang a banner at the entrance of your event or church that says, “Fear Not,” or your favorite related Bible verse.

5. Play kids’ praise music over loudspeakers or have worship leaders sing live. Choose upbeat songs about overcoming fear and trusting God no matter the circumstances. Of course, you can play Awana songs too! Find them on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

6. Greet families with cheers, noisemakers, and more. Even outside, it’s a good idea to be cautious about social distancing. Wear Awana face masks to add more fun to your look while keeping everyone safe.

7. Host some of the fun, socially distanced games from our free COVID-19 Playbook, including Freeze Dance. Virtual games can be adjusted to fit your fall theme, or make up some of your own.

8. Use a projector to create your own drive-in movie, put together an online video show, or play Bible-themed cartoons or kids’ music videos that have fun hand motions.

9. If your party is live, stream it so kids can watch from home. As an alternative, record your event and edit a highlight video for families to view later on social media. Include a short message telling them you’re so glad to have them participate online.

10. Give door prizes and awards for game winners and those with the best costumes, scarecrows or pumpkin carvings. If a lot of kids participate from home, consider a separate category for them and send them their prizes.

11. For a socially distanced event, map out a safe route in your church parking lot around the decorated cars. Visitors can drive through slowly to see each car (similar to a Christmas light show). In your invitations, encourage guests to decorate the outside of their own cars with washable window markers or fun decals. Or host a car parade and drive by the houses of the kids in your club and through the neighborhoods near your church.

12. Hand out candy and goody bags, like the new Awana Clubs zipper bag. You can fill it with small toys and treats or give it to kids empty so they can stash in it the candy and prizes they receive. The multipurpose bag is durable for long-time use and will remind kids of the event after it’s over. Require anyone who’s handing out treats to wear a mask and gloves. Use a scoop to pass out small items, and make hand sanitizer available for everyone.

13. If your church isn’t hosting an event, consider dropping off goody bags to your kids while they’re home and to neighbors near your church. Include a thoughtful message or an invitation to join you at a later time.

Before your event ends, invite everyone to your in-person or virtual Awana club, and keep in touch with new families. Remember, adults need lots of encouragement this season too! Thank them for all their hard work and invite them to a Bible study or small group.

Church alternatives to this season have always focused on overcoming darkness with light. Now, we’re up against real fears, not just imaginary ones. Pray as a team about ways to create a safe, lighthearted event that replaces fear with fun and introduces your neighbors to the love of Christ.

How do you plan to celebrate the season? Tell us about it in the comments.