Light on a dark night event

Light on a Dark Night church based event

St Mary Magdalene, Gorleston welcomes around 200 families from their estate, to pass through their annual ‘Light on a Dark Night’ event.

The Light on a Dark Night event has been developed by St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston as a way of engaging with the local community at Halloween. 

Rather than retreating from the darkness associated with Halloween, families are invited to explore it and discover the Christian message of hope and victory through Jesus.  In doing so, their church has become part of their neighbourhood’s trick or treat activity route and is very popular.

Families enter the “Dark Zone” – a dark, spooky trail with challenges that point to our need for light. 

The journey eventually reaches The Cross, which, lit up, is where they hear the message that Jesus has overcome the darkness for them and through Him, enabling them to enter the “Light Zone”.

From there, families enter the “Light Zone” – a welcoming space filled with music, fairy lights, food, drinks and crafts. Children receive a gift helping them explore or remember the message behind the event.

The aim is to meet families where they are, engage positively with the community at Halloween, and point people towards the hope and light found in Jesus.

Read some theological and practical reflections on Light on a Dark Night by Anna Price, St Mary Magdalene

Find out how to create your own church’s event using St Mary Magdalene’s Light on a Dark Night framework below