Oct. 31 is a day marked on children’s calendars, giving them the opportunity to dress up as their favorite cartoon character, animal, or public figure.

There are those aspects to make it so attractive, not to mention the large amounts of candy sure to fill their baskets.

However, celebrating Halloween is not on everyone’s agenda. Many decide to forgo the unofficial holiday as a safety measure for family members or because of religious reasons.

But just like diet soda, many churches and other organizations will have a “healthy” alternative for families not interested in trick-ortreating.

An ode to the season, several Fall Festivals will be held this weekend. Among those hoping to provide good, clean fun are White Plains and Macedonia Baptist churches, as well as Restoration Church of Gaffney, which has seen its attendance balloon into the thousands for the annual event held at Walmart.

“It’s one of the events we look forward to each year, that along with our yearly Easter Egg Hunt,” said Restoration Church of Gaffney Children’s Pastor Larry Lawrence. “A fun event for children, we look to give families an alternative to trick-or-treating, giving them what they would see at other events.”

At each Fall Festival, children can expect to fill their bags full of candy and prizes, in addition to participating in games and other forms of entertainment. Vendors like Chick-fil-A and Domino’s Pizza have also offered their services to help with the event.

Though trying to distance itself from Halloween activities, Lawrence knows it would be impossible to tell children they cannot wear costumes.

“We will not tell kids they can’t come to the Fall Festival if they have on costumes, that would definitely run people away,” Lawrence said. “But we will try to make sure there aren’t any scary costumes, or those depicting blood and gore at the event.”

Children are allowed to dress up as their favorite animal or cartoon character, however.

The Gaffney Downtown Business Association will also be busy this Saturday as it hosts its annual Trunk or Treat event.

Cars from local busi- nesses and Buford Street United Methodist Church will be parked along Limestone Street to hand out candy from 5-7 p.m.

Also among those going the conservative route is the Blacksburg Business Association, inviting Cherokee County residents to join them for its annual Oct. 31 celebration.

Originally planned to allow children to go from business to business in downtown Blacksburg, the event has shifted to the banquet room in Iron City Place due to the inclement weather expected in the area this weekend. However, that will do little to stop the party from going on, complete with a bonfire, candy, prizes and food items. The 16th Avenue Band will also be on hand to provide live entertainment.

“One of our last events was cancelled due to rain, so we made sure to make plans for Iron City Place this time,” said Blacksburg Business Association Secretary Dorcas Blackwell- Wright. “We just hope people will come out and have a little fun with us.”

Family Fun on Halloween

. Blacksburg Business Association “Fright Night”
6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Iron City Place, Blacksburg
. Restoration Church of Gaffney Fall Festival
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Walmart on Baker Boulevard
. Macedonia Baptist Church Fall Festival
4-7 p.m. 216 Macedonia Road, Gaffney
. White Plains Baptist Church Fall Festival
3-9 p.m. 206 Soapstone Road, Gaffney
. Downtown Business Association Trunk or Treat
5-7 p.m. Limestone Street, Gaffney