NEW PALESTINE — It’s time for local residents to mark the calendar for fall fun, good food and entertainment.
The annual New Palestine Lions Club Fall Festival is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at the Lions Club, 5247 W. U.S. 52.
This year’s event is special, marking the 70th year officials with the Lions Club have put on the annual gathering.
Despite the milestone, there won’t be anything uniquely planned, organizers said, noting the festival is pretty much the same from year to year.
“People seem to like what we do so we really aren’t doing anything different from what we’ve done in the past,” said Mark Kennedy, festival planner.
Organizers are bringing back the popular purse bingo, set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. Ten rounds of bingo will cost $25 and can be purchased in advance at the Woodland Terrace senior living center, 4400 Terrace Drive.
Tickets are expected to go fast with the doors opening for the bingo at 5:30 p.m.
“Purse bingo was a huge hit for us last year,” Kennedy, said.
As always, patrons can also enjoy the annual fish fry dinner, live music, patrons booths, a children’s play area with bounce houses, a beer and wine garden, the New Palestine High School all-class reunion, parade and more.
There will be a new Kids Chalk Draw area, sponsored by Little Learners on the grounds of the Lions Club for children to create art on Thursday.
Some of the entertainment includes the Hearts Ablaze Cloggers, a local dance group set to perform on opening night at 6 p.m. The New Palestine High School choir will put on a show at 3 p.m. Saturday inside the Lions Club hall.
One of the most popular events of the festival started a couple of years ago when organizers created the annual New Palestine High School all-class reunion. The gathering begins at 5 p.m. Saturday. Organizers will have a DJ and a live band, Acoustic Outlaws, who are expected to perform at 7:30 p.m.
People and groups who want to take part in the parade down U.S. 52 set for 11 a.m. Saturday rain or shine are welcome. Groups can start lining up at New Palestine Elementary around 9:30 a.m. There is no application needed to participate and all are welcome, Kennedy said.
There is no cost to get into the festival, but patrons will pay for food and drink, along with a $5 fee to get into the kids bounce house area.
Any profits generated from the festival will go back into the community through Lions Club programs, Kennedy said.
