When Teen Central hosts its annual Light the Night event, the organization welcomes hundreds of people to enjoy food, fellowship and fun. This year's festivities will be held on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of Teen Central, 15 S. Wolf St., Manheim.

"The event takes place during Manheim's trick-or-treat hours, and the last few years we have had between 400 to 500 people pass through our parking lot," said Janelle Heying, Teen Central executive director. "We would love to welcome everyone to this free community event. Whether people are looking for some safe family-friendly fun or are out trick-or-treating and want to swing by, we will be there with plenty of food and activities for all ages."

Light the Night will be held rain or shine and will include stations such as popcorn, cotton candy, firepits with s'mores, a photo booth, games, candy and a food station that will be serving free hot dogs, hot chocolate and chips. New this year, hamburgers will also be served while supplies last.

"Tours of the inside of our building will also be available for people who are interested in learning more about our ministry and what all we do at Teen Central," Heying said.

Teen Central is a nonprofit Christian organization that serves middle school and high school students in grades five through 12 within Manheim.

"We are open four days a week for our regular programming where we provide free snacks, activities, Bible study time, and a free meal is served daily," Heying remarked. "We also hold monthly free events such as mini-golf nights, backyard bashes, Christmas and other seasonal parties or outings to other local establishments. Our goal is to provide spiritual development and quality life experiences to the youth of our community, and we do that through a variety of ways."

The organization holds Light the Night annually to spread awareness of its mission and to provide a free community event. "The purpose for this evening is to bring the light of Jesus to our neighbors by connecting with and serving those in our community. We love being able to use our space to bring the community together on a night where most people are already out and about and interacting with each other," Heying said. "To see all the smiles being shared and fun being had during this event, it is always worth it and a great motivation to provide this event year after year. We love being able to see the love of Christ spread throughout the night."

She noted that it's a team effort to pull off the event. "This event wouldn't be possible without our wonderful volunteers and other partnerships within the community," she shared. "A special thank you to all who contribute to this event whether it be with their time, resources or prayers and encouragement."

She hopes anyone who is interested will stop by for Light the Night. "We highly encourage people to come out and attend this event," Heying stated. "Whether they are looking for some good music, tasty treats or a good conversation, we will be here and ready for you. People can expect a safe and inviting atmosphere to either pass through while trick-or-treating or to stay and enjoy for the entire two hours."

For more information on Teen Central or Light the Night, contact Heying at janelleh@teencentralmanheim.org or call 717-664-2990.