Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater held their annual fall festival Sept. 24 featuring a number of events for attendees of all ages to enjoy.

 

Ole and Lena (aka Pastor Steve Timm and Liz Smith) were there to greet everyone when doors opened at 10 a.m. Outside was a selection of garden fresh produce and plants available for purchase.

 

Granny’s Attic was a popular spot as usual, as were the bake sale and homemade crafts and gifts areas. Raffle tickets continued to be sold, and the large number of silent auction items drew people throughout the day.

 

The gloomy weather didn’t deter kids from the Kidz Karnival, held outside, with the surprise hit of the day being the festival’s first ever dunk tank. Kids and teens lined up over and over for a chance to dunk their peers and Pastor Steve, who bravely took his turn as dunkee despite some obvious cheating done to ensure he got wet.

 

Ole’s Grill and Beer Garden offered food for attendees for the first part of the festival until the first of two lutefisk and Swedish meatball dinners began at 3:30 p.m.

 

Easily one of the most popular and anticipated events of the festival every year, the dinner featured Scandinavian delicacies along with traditional lutefisk and Swedish meatballs. The 5 p.m. seating time was sold out in advance, with the dinner area filled to capacity with people enjoying the meal.

 

The money raised from the fall festival will go to the church’s general fund.