Harvest Celebration sows alternatives

Watching as their girls, Claire, 2, and Carley, 5, ducked under an orange balloon in their game of Limbo, Becky and Jason Sanders said it is a tradition for them to attend the Seymour First Church of the Nazarene’s Harvest Celebration.

“It’s a safe environment,” Becky said. “It’s a fun, family-friendly night.”

The Sanders are church members.

Limbo wasn’t the only activity for children at the annual celebration. Cosmic bowling, a cake walk, face painting and sack races were a few of the other games for children Saturday evening.

Spinning around in circles with a bandana tied around her eyes, Kendra Ault, 9, was dressed as a  bride as she played pin the eye on the pumpkin during the night’s festivities.

Explaining her costume, Ault said she doesn’t like scary things and wanted her costume to be pretty.

Carla Bode, a church volunteer, was working the pin the eye on the pumpkin game.

“I like to see kids come in, in their different costumes,” she said. She said she likes the atmosphere for the children and how it serves as a safe haven for them.

“It’s a fun, safe place for kids to come to trick-or-treat,” church volunteer Ashley Murphy added. She, along with Jennifer and Bobby Hehe, organized the night’s events, which usually bring in about 100 kids. Church volunteers run all of the activities.

Manning the David and Goliath game, Bev Bryant, a church volunteer, said she likes helping because it makes for a fun evening.