With school being back in session, we tend to get caught up in the business of life. We need some relief and the annual fall festival, hosted by the local Catholic church, Our Lady of Lourdes. The one weekend event held each year has a little something for everyone and the proceeds contribute to a good cause. So what better more reason to go?

The annual festival brings the community together. According to regular church attender, former student of OLL and PHUHS sophomore, Gabby Abrams said, “People all over Pinellas County come to the fair.” Whether it be to ride the ferris wheel, or to snack on some cotton candy, or even to witness the live music, the festival has something that everyone can enjoy.

The annual fair brings out the little kid in everyone, and the church puts on a community event that allows families to have a blast together. Making sure to never disappoint, the fall festival creates a fun atmosphere dedicated to the enjoyment of the fair goers, allowing people of all ages to let their hair down and have a good time.

The fair also contributes 100% of its proceeds to the financial aid and low price tuition of the students that regularly attend the Parish’s school. The money raised by the festival helps students “keep their books and classrooms updated” so that their education doesn’t start to slack off, said Abrams. The children benefit by the attendance of Pinellas county residents, further proving why the fall festival deserves to be checked out this year, and the years to come.

In the craziness of the yearly celebration, it requires tireless months of preparation. Plans for the following years festival “starts as soon as the last ones ends”, said Abrams, whose father is on the Fall Festival Committee. Hard work and dedication is put in to make sure that attendees have a fun filled night.

The Committee makes sure to keep fan favorites in the mix such as the classic Ferris wheel or the gravity defying “Zipper”, to draw in more fair goers. But also tries to experiment with new attractions and entertainment, to see what works and what should be improved.

The once a year fall festival has come and passed once again. Our Lady of Lourdes puts on an event that brings the local community a little bit closer even if for only one weekend a year. As life starts to get busy again, we must remember to enjoy the little moments that we most often forget about.