Church's 1st festival a success

Despite the colder temperatures and rain, the Immaculate Conception Summer Festival was well attended.

Saturday the church's parking lot was transformed into a festival scene with more than 16 game and food booths for children and adults to enjoy. The inside of the church was changed to accommodate a craft fair and bingo.

Louise Laughlin, summer festival committee chairman, said about 500 people attended the event where $9,215.45 was raised.

"Even though it rained we had a great turnout," she said. "I was very pleased. With the weather so bad I didn't think we would make that much."

All of the money will go into the church's capital improvements fund. Although certain projects have not been listed, it will go where it is needed.

The money will be spent on anything that needs to be fixed around the church, she said.

Children could play numerous games including, go fish, toss a penny, throw a football or basketball, jarts, bean bag toss, pick a duck and ring toss. They also had their choice of snacks with popcorn, cotton candy, carmel apples and cupcakes available. For a bigger meal, hamburgers, chips and hot dogs were available.

Children competed for a chance to win a prize, the better they did the bigger the prize, but no one walked away empty handed.

Residents also had the chance to purchase raffle tickets for a shot at a 65-inch television set, barbecue, RC helicopters, bikes, handmade rosaries and crucifixes and gift baskets.

Kids who attended the event were excited to win prizes and play the games, they would run from game to game with blue tickets in hand. Tickets were sold and all games and food were purchased with the tickets.

Bingo, which was led by David and Becky Gomez, also had cash and money prizes. Laughlin said the church was blessed to have all the food and prizes donated.

Music was also provided by Max-Say-Shun.

This was the first year for the festival, but the church plans on making this an annual event, she said.

Organizing the event

Laughlin said members of the church discussed possible fundraising ideas and settled on the summer festival idea.

"No one in town has ever had one," Laughlin said.

Soon after selected the festival fundraiser, a committee was formed.

"Everyone pitched in, it was not just myself," she said. "The whole church really came together to make it successful."

Laughlin sewed the flags for the event, while her husband, Ted made all of the games.

Church members started planning the event about three months ago, ordering prizes, buying decorations and making sure enough canopies were donated.

"It was wonderful because everyone wanted to be a part of this," she said.

Each booth volunteer was in charge of decorating their own booth with the balloons, streamers, signs and balloons provided to them, she said.

Laughlin said she felt this event not only brought the church members closer together, but it brought the community together.

Laughlin wanted to thank the vendors, church members, parishioners and all of those who donated items and the community for attending the event.