Fall Festival: Bringing Community Together in Fellowship and Support for Our Parish

Now in its 37th year, the St. Joseph Fall Festival has been a parish tradition to support St. Joseph Parish but also to bring our community together for a day of fun and delicious food.

The festival is set for Sept. 19 at St. Joseph Parish in Montevideo and is expected to include some changes that came about last year under pandemic restrictions. Karen Kling is serving as Chair.

It is expected that the traditional festival dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and it may be a combination of dining-in and drive-thru.

“Last year we did the drive-thru and we may adjust from that,” says Carrie Strei, festival financial Co-Chair. “We don’t know yet if there will be a capacity limit for indoor dining.”

Whatever arrangements are made, festival-goers are assured of a great meal of a grilled pork chop prepared by our Knights of Columbus members, served with a baked potato, coleslaw, vegetable and a bar.

It is expected the traditional kids’ games will again be part of the festival, along with the cake walk and the piñatas crafted by our Hispanic community. Another festival feature is the Country Market, where parishioners offer their fresh produce, craft items, and baked goods. Adjustments may be made according to current COVID-19 guidelines from our diocese.

The Silent Auction will again go online this year after it was determined that more people could take part.

“We learned a lot from last year,” Carrie says. “It is a big part of the fundraising.”

Everyone in the parish should have received their raffle tickets that were mailed in July. Parishioners may either sell the tickets or purchase them. The payouts run from $25 to the $1,000 grand prize.

“If anyone needs more tickets, they will be available after August in the church office,” Carrie says. “Along with the raffle tickets, parishioners will receive a letter that will explain all the latest details about the festival, along with information if they want to donate to the silent auction, the games, or produce.”

Besides helping St. Joseph Parish financially, the festival offers a wonderful opportunity to practice stewardship and share in fellowship.

“I think just serving and working with people, eating with people you might not see at Mass, getting the youth group and Confirmation students and a great group of volunteers — it’s a great way to give back to the church that has been provided to us by God,” Carrie says. “It’s a way to be able to give back to the place we go to worship, for our sacraments. It’s a good reminder to people it’s how our church operates.”

Volunteers are welcome to help at the festival with such tasks as setting up tables, rolling silverware, and helping with the games. There will be signup opportunities online, as well as on sheets posted at St. Joseph’s Church. Information will be posted weekly in the bulletin.