By JEFF FARRELL

Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE — There were ghosts and ghouls, superheroes and little angels at First Baptist Church of Sevierville on Saturday afternoon.

The church held its yearly fall festival Saturday, on Halloween — so there were lots of kids — and adults— in costume.

The church offered a chance to get pictures in costume, along with free food and a host of events at the event in its Family Life Center.

“We’re just offering our community an opportunity to come out and play as a family,” said Royce Bailey, the children’s pastor of the church. “We call it an alternative to Halloween.”

The festival drew a wall-to-wall crowd to the Family Life Center; the line for pictures wound through the top floor. They had booths where police officers could get fingerprints from children, face painting, and even a brief play.

“It’s biblical, and it’s funny,’ Bailey said. “We’ve got guys who make it fun.”

Buddy McKinney brought his 11-year-old son, Preston, to the festival. ‘I’m just hanging out, going wherever he goes,” Buddy said.

Art Stump was holding his young daughter, Lauren, who’s a year old. His other daughters, Kristin, 4, and Alissa, 17, were also at the festival.

“We come every year,” he said. “ It’s a good thing for the kids.”

jfarrell@themountainpress.com