Churches provide Halloween alternatives

Lolita Harper

NEWPORT-MESA -- While ghosts, goblins and creatures from the dark side

are often associated with the Halloween tradition, some area churches say

they will try to shift the focus to the lighter side of the season.

Newport Mesa Christian Center will hold a festival to celebrate the

harvest season, rather than the usual fright fests associated with the

pagan holiday. Debbie Hampton, the festival’s game booth coordinator,

said the Harvest Festival provides a safe and scare-free atmosphere for

families.

“We’re having a party to celebrate the season without the fear

factor,” Hampton said.

The church not only discourages blood, gore and death-related

costumes, it will monitor people’s apparel at the entrance, Hampton said.

Attendants will be asked to remove frightening masks or blood-soaked

costumes, she said.

“Four years ago, someone scared the daylights out of this little girl.

She was horribly upset and still remembers it,” Hampton said. “We want to

avoid that.”

Once through the gate, attendants will trick or treat, play games,

ride ponies and pet animals at a petting zoo, she said.

Calvary Church Newport Mesa will also host a Halloween festival, but

organizers said they are not concerned with monitoring costumes or

themes.

“We don’t dissuade or encourage anything. We sort of feel if we don’t

talk about it, it won’t become an issue,” Pastor Tim Celek said.

Celek said the church focuses more on providing a safe environment for

children rather than an alternative to ghouls and gore. The Safe and

Secure Halloween celebration started 13 years ago as a response to

reports of children receiving poisoned candy and being injured by cars,

he said.

Both church festivals are organized and run by volunteers, and Hampton

and Celek said all security issues have been addressed.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

FYI:

* WHAT: Newport Mesa Christian Center Harvest Festival

* WHEN: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday

* WHERE: 2599 Newport Blvd., next to Vanguard University, Costa Mesa

* COST: $5

* INFORMATION: (714) 966-0454

* WHAT: Safe and Secure Halloween

* WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday

* WHERE: 190 E. 23rd St., Costa Mesa

* COST: Free

* INFORMATION: (949) 645-5050