For 40 years the Detroit Lakes Community has joined the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Community to celebrate the arrival of fall and raise funds for the church and school.
On Sunday, Sept. 22, that will make 41 years.
Holy Rosary’s Fall Festival kicks off with a festival mass at 10:30 a.m. and the celebration following from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While the event is being held at Holy Rosary, the festival is open to everybody in the community looking for a little Sunday afternoon family fun.
“We’re going to have kid’s games, a farmer’s market, raffles, white elephant, silent auction, live auction….and lots of food,” said Joe Boyer, who is chairing the event again with his wife, Sandie.
Boyer says the Fall Festival usually brings in anywhere from 600 to 700 people every year, and parishioners donating their time, belongings and efforts to the fundraiser are expecting a similar turnout this year.
“We’re praying for good weather because we’re doing a lot of events outside,” said Boyer, who says there will be carnival-style kids games set up outside where children can buy tickets to play. “And then they can win prizes and things, too,” he said, adding that community members donate well over 200 cakes and pies for the ever-popular cake walk.
“One of the new things we’re adding this year too is cotton candy, snowcones and fresh-cut fruit kabobs,” said Boyer, who says they like to go “all out for this thing.”
Also new to the fall fest this year is a pasta dinner, which includes a meatball on top and garlic toast.
“So there will be red and white sauces and some blackened chicken rigatoni, and I just know that’s going to go over well,” said Boyer, who says the pasta dinner will go for $8 per plate.
Parishioners are also cooking up some of their own specialties for the event, including brats, taco salad in a bag, and there will even be an ice cream and pie stand set up for dessert.
A farmer’s market and over 20 tables of white elephant items (previously owned items) will also be set up outside.
In the event of rain, tents will be set up.
Boyer says event organizers are still looking for donations for the white elephant sale, as well as for the raffles and live and silent auctions.
“It’s not like we had last year at this time, so we’re hoping we get some last-minute donations in,” said Boyer.
There will be a couple of homemade quilts up for grabs again this year, one in the raffle and one in the silent auction.
Boyer says the event is not just a way for the families of Holy Rosary to work together to run the many booths of the fall festival, but it’s also been a great gathering for community members for many years.
“It’s a community function…it’s family fun and fellowship,” said Boyer. “You don’t have to be part of the church or school, people can just come on out and enjoy it.”
For more information on the event or to donate funds or items, call the parish office at 218-847-1393.
