Hundreds flock church for Harvest Fest
While countless children were out trick or treating on Halloween, there were others celebrating at the North Shore Alliance Church on W. Mariana Avenue.
The annual Harvest Fest on Halloween night brought in hundreds of families throughout the area for an evening of fun in a family-friendly environment without any safety worries.
And those door-knockers didn’t have a bounce house to jump around in along the way.
Pastor Tim Richter said he got the idea from a family that did a similar event in their home about a decade ago as a way to have a celebration along with the trick or treating.
“It went so well, they decided to have it at the church. It’s getting harder to walk the streets, so we have it inside with the games and food, so it’s a real community thing,” Richter said.
And it has grown to the point where parking has become a challenge. More than 800 attended last year, with as many as 1,000 attending this year, most of them children.
They got to spend the evening at the climbing wall, in the bounce houses and chomping down on hot dogs. They then went outside to visit volunteers handing out candy before taking off for a hayride.
And it was all free.
“We wanted to give families a safe, fun family atmosphere to come to. We share the gospel with them and give a gift bag to all the families which includes a DVD on why bad things happen to good people,” Richter said.
Pamela Padilla, a churchgoer and mother of three, said she brings her family to the event every year.
“I don’t take them trick or treating. Here, it’s safer and the kids have more fun,” Padilla said.
Daughter Kelsey, 8, costumed as a princess, agreed with her mother.
“I like watching people climb the wall and the candy. I like doing this every year,” Kelsey said.
Sandra Martinez brought her three kids, ages 10, 8 and 2, and was chasing them around the various bounce houses in the congregation hall.
“You don’t have to walk around thinking who’s going to give you what or what they’ll give you, so it’s real cool,” Martinez said. “They use to have this at my other church and I heard about this one.”
None of this could happen without the dozens of volunteers on hand to help out.
Tony Beougher, who was on cotton candy detail in his Ninja Turtle costume, came with the three smaller ninja turtles and was enjoying his labor of love.
“It’s always a great event and we always enjoy doing it. We’ve come to the church for 30 years and remember doing this myself as a kid,” Beougher said. “It’s a safe alternative and gives the parents somewhere to have fun themselves.”