St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School is getting ready for its annual Fall Festival Saturday.
Activities will begin with a yard sale, which will run from 6 to 10 a.m. with all proceeds going to the school.
At 10:30, there will be a blessing of animals in front of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 2613 U.S. 82 East. The blessing is part of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, said the Rev. Greg Plata, pastor of the church.
In past years, as many as 30 animals have been blessed during a single ceremony, including “everything from horses to hamsters,” Plata said.
At the festival, held on the school’s grounds, plenty of food will be available for purchase including tamales, catfish and chicken dinners.
A drawdown begins at noon. The grand prize is $5,000 cash. Also, a pair of Green Bay Packers football tickets will be raffled off.
Tickets for the drawdown are $50 each, and today is the deadline to purchase them.
Other activities include inflatables, horse rides and face painting for the kids and bingo for the adults.
In separate drawings, participants can compete for the chance to win a Regions Bank bike or a 65-inch smart TV. There also will be a silent auction.
The festival should conclude around 4 p.m., said Jackie Lewis, principal of the school.
Plata said the festival has been blessed with good fall weather.
“We always have gotten a good crowd. It brings out everyone from Greenwood,” he said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
