Church Holds Fall Celebration

And marshall counties.

As the holiday season nears -- the cdc is saying fall celebrations will likely need to be different this year in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Waay 31's max cohan is live in huntsvilel tonight-- to tell us how some events are already changing.

The winchester road baptist church holds an annual fall festival each year -- but the coronavirus has caused the event to shift into a different gear this year.

' nat sound "we're calling it a fall drive- thru...basically it does come down to a trunk or treat, we have several church members that are getting together with us and setting up and going to reach out to the community."

Donna williams -- the childrens director at the winchester baptist church -- said the fall festivial is generally one of the churches largest out reach events... "this year, it kind of didnt happen the way we had hoped, so with that, we were looking at ways we could reach to the community -- the kids."

Williams says after some thought and prayer the group decided that a drive-thru festival would be the best and safest alternative this year.

More than a dozen cars spread out across the parking lot and decorated their trunks with displays in the churches typical fall festival style.

Of course candy was also distributed -- with some pariticpants finding interesing and wacky ways to hand out the sweet treats.

"the people will not be getting out their vehicles, when they come through, we will guide them around, the individuals in the vehicles will be passing out the candy with different means -- some are using fishing lines, some are using gloved hands and mask, again so yes we're out to try to protect everybody that will be participating."

The response to the event could be seen immediately -- with long lines of cars flowing into the parking lot and even backing up to the street.

While the event is not quite what it had been in years past -- participants like terrie gipson say anything they can do for the kids is worth it.

Terrie gipson -- participant "we wanted to at least give them something, you know.

And so this was an alternative, i think it was a great idea that our children's director came up with and im always willing to be a part of things like that."

While this event wasn't neccisairly halloween focused -- that holiday is just a week a way and this year -- the cdc says many traditional halloween activites can be high risk for spreading viruses and recommends lower risk activities like virtual costume parties and scavenger hunts with members of your own family.

Live in huntsville, max cohan, waay 31 news.