Participants play the giant Candy Land game at Fargo First UMC. Photos courtesy of First UMC.

On Halloween, First United Methodist Church in Fargo, North Dakota, invited more than 325 people to experience the love of Jesus at a Candy Land Adventure. The event was a fun, safe, and warm alternative to trick-or-treating. In the Fellowship Hall, families had the opportunity to participate in a giant Candy Land game.

Candy Land is a simple racing board game created by Eleanor Abbott and published by Milton Bradley in 1948. Players take turns spinning the wheel that lands on one of six colors and then moving their marker (or, in this case, body) ahead to the next space of that color. The game is won by landing on or passing the final square and thus reaching the goal of the Candy Castle.

Participants in the giant Candy Land game at First UMC explored Proverbs 14:12. There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. (NRSVUE)

In Candy Land, participants traveled through a world of nothing but candy. In real life, a diet of nothing but candy can be harmful. It feels good, but it is not suitable for us. Just doing things in life that make you feel good is a dangerous way to live. Doing what is right or good for our bodies is not always easy, but in the long run, it is the best thing for us.

Andrea Plueddeman, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at First UMC, coordinated a similar event several years ago at a different church.

"It was a random thing for families. We did it just for members of our church. It was a ton of fun. When I became the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries in July, I thought it would be good to do something for the community that was not so focused on Halloween. There are fewer and fewer people who feel safe going door-to-door trick or treating," said Plueddeman.

She took the idea of doing the Candy Land Adventure to the Discipleship Ministries Team and Senior Pastor Ryan Mutzenberger. Everyone liked the idea and said, "Let's do it."  It was an extension of the many ways First UMC has been reaching out to the community through—Wednesday Night activities like Dinner Church and a Thursday noon community meal. Read an article about First UMC. Watch a video about Dinner Church.

With a team, Andrea began to design and plan the community event. They began to create giant squares for the game pieces, construct props for different stations, gather prizes and decorations, and collect candy.

Andrea describes the setting. "In the center of the Fellowship Hall was the giant game. The playing squares were made from poster board and laid out to create the Candy Land game. In the front part of our Fellowship Hall, closest to our kitchen, there was food and some tables for families to sit down and eat. Then, in the rest of the area, several stations were set up, including a photo booth, a slime-making station, a gingerbread-making station—because that is one of the places in Candyland, a big candy land poster or a community coloring page, a place for creating Candyland magnets, a tattoo station with Candyland washable tattoos, and a cake walk."

To ensure everyone got enough candy there was a candy bar table at the Candy Land Adventure.

The food, which included hot dogs, chips, cotton candy, popcorn, water, and lemonade, was low in nutritional value but high in fun. A candy bar was even provided to ensure there was enough candy for each participant.

"People in the congregation donated candy, so we put that in one area, and people went through the candy bar and selected what they wanted," said Andrea.

Participants entered the church and followed the signs and decor to Candy Land. There was a registration table where people could get information about the Candy Land event, upcoming events, or directions. They could play the game or go to one of the stations. View a video about the Candy Land Adventure. 

"If they chose to register, they could be part of the drawing for door prizes at the night's end. Like a couple of slime kits, squish mellows, gift cards for adults, a five-pound gummy bear for teenagers, and just lots of different prizes," said Andrea.

A unique feature of the game was the opportunity to spin the wheel. Andrea describes, "We had giant dice that they threw to tell them how many spaces they needed to move in the game. If they rolled a three, they spun this giant wheel. On the wheel, it told them what to do—dance, win a piece of candy, trade places with another player, lose a turn, or win a prize."

Some game board pieces were randomly marked, "You win a prize."  If the participants landed on one of those spaces, they could go to an area and select a prize—prizes included glow sticks, fruit snacks, Hot Wheel cars, and several others.  

Volunteers fueled the event. Andrea shares, "About 25-30 volunteers helped before the event. There were more than 20 adult volunteers during the event. Some of our confirmation students jumped in to help. Some of our youth group students came to play for an hour and then helped for an hour. I have amazing volunteers!"

Spinning the Candy Land Wheel.

The event was marketed on social media, the Christian radio station, fliers, and word of mouth. "For the whole month of October, we did a Facebook event promotion. We advertised it on Wednesdays and Thursdays to people who came to things at church. It was advertised on Life 97 9, which is our Christian radio station," Andrea explained.

People shared that they were excited about coming. One grandparent said, "I'm bringing all my grandkids to this!"  Another person said, "I'm bringing my minivan full of kids, and my husband's bringing his suburban full of kids."

The hope was to reach 250 people. More than 327 people were welcomed to First UMC and the giant Candy Land Adventure!

Andrea declared the event successful: "It just feels so good to have people floating in and out of the building. It does keep our building crew on their toes. I'm so grateful for the staff and congregation. They have embraced unconventional ideas, invited the community, and shared the love of Jesus."

View more photos of the Candy Land Adventure.