5 ideas to engage with Halloween from your front door.
For five years we’ve been exploring how to engage with Halloween from our driveway, you can read more about why we do this here. Our planning starts at the end of September when we choose our theme, then through games, and food and stories we try to create as much light and laughter as possible. Our experience is that our friendly approach to trick or treaters has been met with much gratitude and its been a great opportunity to show something of the goodness, beauty and truth of Jesus on a dark night. Here are some ideas to get you going…
Year one
Theme: Laughter and light
Decoration: We bought the largest pumpkins possible, and decorated our driveway with loads of fairy lights.
Giveaway: Sweets, glow sticks and the Alfie meets superlight story - The Super Light is a simple story of a boy called Alfie and a superhero called Super Light. Its been written to give out to friends and create curiosity about the person of Jesus Christ.
Want to know more? Read this blog Become a House of Light this Halloween – Nay Dawson
Shopping list: Fairy lights, pumpkins, sweets, Alfie meets superlight story .
Year two
Theme: Bats
Games: Splat the Bat! We found a very long drain pipe, then from our bedroom window sent black bean bags down the drainpipe, and the kids had to try and catch the bat. I’ve put an example below of what you could do.
Giveaway: Tommy, Scott and the spiders story, sweets and Bat poo cakes (simply rice krispie cakes).
The leaflet is a simple story about two boys and their fear of spiders. Its been written to give out to friends and create curiosity about the person of Jesus Christ. We'll be giving these out on our driveway on Halloween in a bag with sweets and glow sticks.
Shopping list; Very long drain pipe, bean bags, stories to give away, sweets
Year three
Theme: Harry Potter
Game: Quidditch park. We had hoops hanging up where kids had to throw a golden quidditch through the hoop.
Giveaway: Chocolate frogs, Quidditch rice kripie cakes and printed cards
Shopping list;
Chocolate frog mould, ingredients for rice krispie cakes, Quidditch cake toppers
Year four
Theme: Spiders
Game: We created a giant Spiders web across our driveway with glow in the dark rope.
Giveaway: Tommy and the spiders - The leaflet is a simple story about two boys and their fear of spiders. Its been written to give out to friends and create curiosity about the person of Jesus Christ. We'll be giving these out on our driveway on Halloween in a bag with sweets and glow sticks.
Shopping list;
Year five
Theme: Day of the dead
Game/Craft: We had a table full of Day of the Dead glitter tattos, these were really popular and parents enjoyed chatting whilst the kids were occupied.
Giveaway: Luna and the keys of death story, Day of the Dead chocolates using these moulds
It might be as simple as carving a pumpkin, decorating your home, giving out sweets, having hot chocolate on your driveway, or offering something that sparks curiosity about Jesus.
We’re not trying to pretend Halloween isn’t about fear and darkness. Instead, we want to offer something different: light, love, joy, generosity and hope.
Our neighbours are already coming to the door.
Let’s be ready to welcome them.
Become a House of Light
There’s no single way to do it. You could:
🏠 Light up your home and make it a welcoming place.
🍬 Give generously - sweets, treats or serve Hot Chocolate for friends, family and neighbours.
👋 Have fun - games in your driveway or crafts for the kids
✨ Share your story giveway tracts or stories or something that points to Jesus.
❤️ Start a conversation - answer your door and make space for friendship.
Whatever you do, the invitation is simple:
Don’t retreat.
Don’t hide your light.
Open the door.
Let your light shine.
Become a House of Light this Halloween.