Woodbridge, Va. – Thirty foot inflatable slide. Double-sided basketball challenge. Face painting. Obstacle course complete with ladders and slides. And kids – lots and lots of kids! These were just a few of the sights and sounds people encountered when they passed by Holiness Tabernacle Church Of God In Christ, which celebrated its annual Hallowed One’s Day, October 31.
"Hallowed One's Day is designed to give an alternative to Halloween," said Pastor Pruitte. While the church teaches against trick-or-treating and engaging in other activities associated with the day, the church also believes in providing an appropriate alternative for families. "Kids just want to have fun and eat a lot of candy," Pastor Pruitte continued. "We host this big carnival-style event to give them something to do where they are safe and can have some fun."
As the second Hallowed One's event at the new location on the corner of Occoquan and Old Bridge, this year’s event was an even greater success – with more youth and family attendance, more activities and clearer weather.
"This year we decided to sell Hallowed One’s Day FunBands," said Bro Michael Benjamin, one of the youth workers. The all access wristbands allowed each wearer unlimited fun with the games, rides and attractions. Several people purchased extra FunBands or specifically made donations to the church so that kids and families with lots of children could enjoy the carnival without stretching themselves financially. Ultimately, the goal was not to make a profit, but to help offset the cost of the equipment and food.
Already, plans are in the works for how to make next year's event bigger and better. With two big-scale programs under their belt, it’s easy to see how the HTC Hallowed One's Day will continue to attract visitors to the church as they continue to develop creative and exciting ways to reach out and engage the community.