By LORETTA FULTON

Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, All Saints Day and All Souls Day will be observed in the coming days, with plenty of fun mixed in with solemn religious traditions.

For the third consecutive year, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church is commandeering Cypress Street for a Fall Family Fellowship on Wednesday, Oct. 25, and everyone is invited. Hours are 6-8 p.m. Trunk-or-treat, food, and games will be provided. Participants are encouraged to wear a costume and decorate their car.

Many other churches are hosting trunk-or-treat events or festivals. All are free and open to the public.

On the more serious side, religious and cultural observances also are scheduled. Many churches observe All Saints Day and All Souls Day, which fall on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively. All Saints Day is set side to honor the saints of the church, while All Souls Day commemorates “all the faithful departed.” 

Among the most festive of all the observances will be a Dia de los Muertos Family Festival at the Grace Museum 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. The event is free and all are invited. The evening will feature Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz, snacks, crafts such as making sugar skulls, book reading, and a community ofrenda or offering. Everyone is invited to bring something representing a deceased loved one for the ofrenda display. 

The Abilene Public Library also will have a Dia de los Muertos celebration all day Saturday, Oct. 28, at its Mockingbird Branch, 1326 N. Mockingbird Lane. Activities will include storytime, movies, crafts, sugar skulls, and more. 

Dia de los Muertos has been observed by indigenous people of Mexico for centuries. It is so significant that in 2008 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the day to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

Following is a listing of some festivals or trunk-or-treat events coming up:

PIONEER DRIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Downtown, Cypress Street
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 25
Fall Family Fellowship includes snacks, trunk or treat, games

SOUTHERN HILLS CHURCH OF CHRIST
3666 Buffalo Gap Road
Trunk-or-Treat 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25

WYLIE METHODIST CHURCH
3430 Antilley Road
Trunk-or-Treat 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
5125 Antilley Road
Trunk or treat 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

HIGHLAND CHURCH OF CHRIST
4:30-6:30 Sunday, Oct. 29
Fall festival at Moody Ranch, 2701 Fulwiler Road
Food, games, candy, hot dogs, hay rides, pumpkin painting, and more

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
1333 N. Third St.
5:30- 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25
Free hot dogs, costumes, in the Family Life Center

SOUTHWEST PARK BAPTIST CHURCH
2901 S. 20th St. 
6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28
Fall Fest includes food, candy, games, music, bounce house

HILLCREST CHURCH OF CHRIST
650 E. Ambler Ave. 
Trunk party 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29

Loretta Fulton is editor of Spirit of Abilene