Sunday is Halloween and Pastor Deb Frysinger is all ready for a new fad to celebrate the holiday by encouraging children to “trunk or treat” and discourage them from walking the streets and knocking on doors which could be dangerous.

“This is our third year with Trunk or Treating and the kids seem to love it and many people like coming here. What happens is that several people pull their cars onto our parking lot on Lee Blvd., and open their trunks and pass out candy and other treats. We ask folks to buy the hand-outs already packaged,” she said.

The new fad is occurring at a couple of other churches in Lehigh, too, she said.

“This is a safe environment for the kids and it can be a lot of fun. The kids come in their costumes and do many of the people in their cars. Sometimes people know each other but because of the costumes, and they are surprised to see who it is when they take off their masks,” she said.

Frysinger is pastor of the First Congregational Church at 200 Leeland Heights Blvd.

She said last year there were around 250 children in costumes going from car trunk to car trunk. She said people seem to be enjoying this new fad and she hopes it continues. Many parents were on hand taking photographs as were people handing out treats from their trunks.

Frysinger said the cars line up and put up the lids on their trunks and pass out the goodies as each child comes by the vehicles.

Trunk or Treating will be held on the church parking lot at 700 E. Leland Heights Blvd., starting at 4:30 and ending at 6:30 p.m.

The church has been very successful this year with its sale of pumpkins at its Pumpkin Patch. Those who want to buy a pumpkin will have to buy it by Sunday because that is the last day for the Pumpkin Patch to be open, Frysinger said.

“The whole thing about bringing your children here is about safety,” Frysinger said. “You know your children will be safe here with our supervision and the good people who want to see the children in costume and want to give them a treat,” she said.

“I am glad some other church also see the need to change the habits of kids on Halloween,” she said.

Many folks may be wondering when Halloween is being celebrated. Sunday night is Halloween and Frysinger said that is when their church is going to celebrate it.