Comments on: Activities Committee Report: Halloween

By: jntswally

jntswally — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:10:12 +0000

Yeah, the no masks, blood or cross-dressing is pretty standard….although awkward when the folks who didn’t get that memo show up…trunk or treat + carnival = equals good times for all. Are you saying blech to warm cider because it’s plain? Do it up w/ spices and yum… P.S. From the # of replies, this is obviously a hot-button issue

By: allencafe

allencafe — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:26:24 +0000

Not just sexy witches. We had a lady in our ward dress up as a sexy minnie mouse. My husband I had a good laugh.

By: Hailey

Hailey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:53:56 +0000

Your Halloween carnival is going to rock! Can I invite myself? Catering is quite simply a blessing of living in modern times. Your kids costumes are going to be awesome! I am a big fall nerd…

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:37:08 +0000

My husband and I used to do the Activities Committee and we did a little twist on the Trunk or Treat because we always had horrible weather and couldn’t go outside for the party (thank you, Idaho). We had families decorate classroom doors inside the church, turned off the hallway lights, gave the kids flashlights and let them trick or treat inside the building. Then, we gave out prizes for the best/most original/scariest doors (and costumes). People went ALL OUT on their doors. Then, we had a party/carnival in the gym. We discovered that, if there is the possibility of winning anything, people really participate and get excited about it.

By the way, how do you tone down the “non-gospel” elements of a Halloween party?

By: rachey

rachey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:36:11 +0000

If dressing up wasn’t allowed, my family and I would never go to a ward Halloween party, thats like celebrating Christmas without the tree…or something like that.

By: rachey

rachey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:35:09 +0000

What is offensive about dressing up as Aunt Jemima?

By: mormonhermitmom

mormonhermitmom — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:08:07 +0000

That’s it. I’m moving to YOUR ward.

By: aubrey

aubrey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:10:37 +0000

Our ward Halloween party rocks! It’s always a dinner and then a tick-or-treat hayride through the same heighborhood every year. It helps when you have a little neighborhood with horse properties in your ward. So we get to go to the ward party AND do trick-or-treating. Win/win.

By: LeonaBea

LeonaBea — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:40:42 +0000

My ward does a pie contest (think old fashioned couty fair competition). The high priests are in charge of the carnival activities, so while the kids are doing those, the adults get to judge pie. The only problem seems to be having enough of the best pie to go around…

My son was Kit Fisto (Star Wars Jedi) one year. It was an AWESOME costume. Not enough Star Wars fanatics in the ward, so he won “Funniest” costume. What’s funny about a well-muscled, dreadlocked jedi star? Our ward doesn’t allow masks, blood, or cross dressing.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:52:29 +0000

Our bishopric wouldn’t let us do a Halloween carnival, so I settled for a chili cook off and pie contest. People had a blast.

If you have a good main dish and good dessert your activities should be fine. Sugar sells.

By: LeahMarie

LeahMarie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:50:19 +0000

The best costume I’ve ever seen at a ward Halloween part was when a Bishop and his wife showed up as Catholic priests. Both of them. I’ve been trying to talk my husband into this ever since.

By: mountain karen

mountain karen — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:15:22 +0000

I am not LDS, (have cousins and friends that are) but I LOVE your blog!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the Mac/PC costume idea and best wishes with your Halloween festivities.

By: carly

carly — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:02:50 +0000

Activities committee is my favorite calling, as well. Answer this ethical question: is it better to set up for an activity or go to the temple instead that day? I’m just wondering….
For your Halloween party you should serve Hawaiian punch with ice hands in it and label it “o+” or “AB-” etc. That can be a real hit. I hate trunk or treats. Peace out.

By: emilyg

emilyg — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:39:42 +0000

our activities committee sooooooooooooo needs to read the part about the carnival not being replaced by a trunk or treat.

By: stephw70

stephw70 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:38:58 +0000

I tried to get rid of the trunk-or-treat nonsense one year (in favor of a full on carnival), and you would have thought I suggested stripper poles and Satan. I could not believe the people that complained and carried on about it. In the end, they had both, but our carnival was way fun and so much better. I think I’d rather die than be on activities, so I’m glad you are willing to do it!

By: emilylf

emilylf — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:29:25 +0000

I’m all for catering. Mormon food isn’t that good anyway (unless my mom is cooking).

My ward in Draper once did a really fun thing and assigned out tables for the Christmas party. One person signed up for a table and decorated it. You wouldn’t believe how far out people went for this, and the tables all looked AMAZING, and the activities committee had to do next to nothing for decorating. Win/win.

By: grannybabs

grannybabs — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:23:08 +0000

I positively dread the idea of ever being on an Activities Committee in any guise.

I’m also affectionately known as the Halloween Scrooge.

But I’m glad there are those who love it – means I can go my merry way!

And I love Trunk or Treat – I love sitting on my back bumper and doling out goodies – maybe because no one ever trick or treats on our street anymore!

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:44:32 +0000

Catering is great and something I totally agree with. And over the top ward activities are always better attended then those that are not. I just got released from the activities committee, it was fun while it lasted.

By: rinngary89

rinngary89 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:18:25 +0000

I agree with most. (not the catering part…. where is the fun in that?!?!)

I mostly agree with the cider and caramel. Vanilla ice cream goes well in warm cider, just so you know.

By: jacqueline

jacqueline — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:56:52 +0000

One year at the ward Halloween party, my husband was Eunice (dressed up as a woman) and I was Rodrigo (dressed as a man… actually one of the missionaries leant me his suit). We thought it was a scream because my husband can speak in a Julia Child voice and managed to stay in character the entire evening. He was ward mission leader at the time and all the missionaries wanted to get a photo with him. Perhaps this is why we no longer have church callings. Just kidding! Hopefully no one was really offended. After all, I figure, it IS Halloween, the one day you can have some fun.