16,000 Christians & Locals Show Up for Rick Warren's 'Blocktober' Alternative Halloween Festivities in CA

Famed pastor Rick Warren hosts an annual party for families who are looking for a safe, positive and fun way to celebrate Halloween. Rather than embracing negative messaging, children and parents, alike, can come in costume to play games and enjoy candy and a litany of family fun.

The event, called "Blocktober," attracted an estimated 16,000 people on Wednesday night. While Warren's house of worship, Saddleback Church, has celebrated alternative Halloween parties for most of the past 20 years, "Blocktober" has officially been in tact for the past three holidays.

Pastor Rick Warren's church holds massive "Blocktober" Halloween event (Photo Credit: Getty Images North America)

The event was large to say the least. Warren and church officials setup activities across the Saddleback's 120-acre Lake Forrest campus, with food trucks, candy, zip lines, obstacle courses, bouncing houses and plenty more being enjoyed by kids and parents, alike. The OC Register reports. An official description of the event on the church's web site reads:

Your family is invited to a giant neighborhood block party at Saddleback Church on October 31, 2012 from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.!  The entire Lake Forest church campus will be transformed into one of the most exciting family events in Orange County.  Join us for music, carnival games, a food court full of some of the best Food Trucks around, a petting zoo, train rides and so much more.  There's something for everyone!

Photo Credit: Saddleback Church and Rick Warren

Warren, who took pictures with tons of costumed kids, heralded the event as a successful means of bringing together church-members and the general community, alike. He took to Twitter on Wednesday night to comment about the monumental family event:

"It's a sense of community. Not everyone is from Saddleback Church," he said. "There are people here from all over Orange County. I've met pastors here from other churches. This is a kids' night that's safe and fun. Everyone is still a kid."

(H/T: The OC Register)

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