Officials cite myriad reasons, ranging from conflicts with evening church services to simply wanting to take advantage of an extra hour of daylight - even as Hamilton County and Northern Kentucky are sticking with Sunday.

"On Sunday evenings, many of our families go to church, and it is a school night," Lebanon Mayor Amy Brewer said. "And Friday nights, we have big football games. We thought Saturday would be a good balance."

Some in Northern Kentucky are scheduling afternoon trick-or-treat hours Sunday to avoid conflicts with evening church services.

Large parts of Warren, Butler and Clermont counties are scheduling their trick-or-treat time for Saturday evening.

The Clermont County Township Association recommended that townships set hours for Saturday because it wanted to take advantage of the last day of Daylight Saving Time and avoid conflict with faith-based organizations.

In Butler County's Wayne Township, trustee Bill McIntire said that in his 23 years on the board, trustees have set trick or treat for Saturday whenever Halloween falls on a Sunday, most recently in 1999.

"We felt it was good to stay off the Sabbath," McIntire said. "We thought we would give people the opportunity to go to church if they wanted to and not have to choose."

The Rev. Paul Mills, pastor of Tri-County Church of the Nazarene in Fairfield Township, is disappointed his township is celebrating Sunday, in conflict with his church's 6 p.m. service.

"It doesn't surprise me," he said. "Our culture has gotten more into scheduling things on Sunday. Soccer games and other sports are just as much a problem, if not more, than Halloween."

Mills' church is one of many in the area hosting alternative Christian-based parties. Pastors say they're hosting the parties, not because the holiday is on a Sunday, but to give families a choice.

"We don't like the influence of Halloween - there's so much evil placed on things, the connotations," said Shannon Whitaker, pastor of Love and Faith Christian Center in Union Township, Clermont County.

The church has hosted a harvest party for 17 years, and this year's coincides with the township's trick or treat. The church encourages children to dress up in non-scary costumes and participate in games, get pony rides activities and collect candy.

"As Christians, we really don't like anything the devil gets the glory for, but we aren't upset Halloween is being celebrated on a Sunday. We just want to provide a positive alternative," she said.

Perhaps the largest church-sponsored alternative will be the Hallelujah Block Party on Sunday afternoon at New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine.

Lavern Sutton, leader of the event, expects as many as 1,500 children and adults to attend the party, 1-5:30 p.m. at Elder and Findlay streets.

The program, in its sixth year, began after the church was looking to do something for the community's children.

"Halloween is not sacred. We don't believe in ghosts and witches and goblins, so we have a Hallelujah Party, which truly praises God," Sutton said.

The party includes food, games, face painting and activities for kids at no charge. The church is also offering free haircuts to the first 100 boys ages 3-12, and hats and gloves to all children.

E-mail kbvance@adelphia.net