Celebrating All Hallow’s Eve

Eric Leake

Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 4:30 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

October 23 - 24, 2004

Halloween isn't a day usually associated with church and all things holy. So what to do when it falls on a Sunday?

Churches across the Las Vegas Valley are offering various answers, from largely ignoring that the two share the same calendar day to supplying more wholesome alternatives.

"We want to get away from Halloween," said Mitch Lovett, children's pastor at Calvary Chapel Spring Valley.

The chapel is holding its annual Harvest Festival Oct. 31 as an alternative to the pedestrian marathon of horror incarnations.

"We're concerned that the kids are out there walking the streets, so we present a safer alternative for them. It also lets people know that we're here," Lovett said.

He expects more than 7,000 people to attend this year's Harvest Festival, which started as a church event and expanded to include the larger community.

Admission is free and entertainment includes Christian rock bands, a fireworks show, games for children and adults and a free carnival midway with candy rewards.

"Our feeling is the motivation for trick-or-treating is a bag full of candy, so we want to make sure you leave with a bag full of candy," Lovett said.

The only reminder of Halloween will be the children's costumes, but nothing out of a horror movie.

"There are folks at the gate who make sure we don't have Freddy Krueger or the devil or any of the costumes that could be kind of traumatizing for the younger people," Lovett said.

Should Freddy be a Christian rock fan and present himself at the door, Lovett said face painters would be on hand to make him less horrific.

A partial listing of local Halloween-related events:

Today

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Oct. 30

Oct. 31