Grace United Methodist Church gears up for fall festival

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Grace United Methodist Church continues its fall tradition of transforming its side yard into an immense pumpkin patch. Volunteers showed up on Saturday for the annual arrival of the pumpkins at the church, where hundreds of pumpkins with varying sizes and prices were unloaded from the back of a large trailer. The pumpkins will gradually dwindle in numbers this month, with the pumpkin patch open daily for those who wish to purchase a pumpkin. The church is also holding a garage sale today and tomorrow with hours from 5:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., followed by its fall festival next Saturday, October 10. Next weekend’s fall festival begins at 9 a.m., with a silent auction, arts and crafts, along with a bake sale. There will be children’s activities all day, along with live music and vendors present. A special “children’s auction” takes place at noon. “Our children’s auction is a live auction for kids that has toys and such for the kids to bid on,” said Nelson Schulze, director of communications and discipleship at GUMC. Live music, vendors, kids games, the pumpkin patch, a bake sale, and other activities will take place during the day. A fellowship dinner will take place at 4:30 p.m., with a live auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. The auction items include themed baskets, craft items, sporting goods, gift certificates, and other items. Meal tickets for the dinner are $10 and available through the church office, with the menu being pulled pork, coleslaw, beans, bread and cobbler.