For many, the St. Joseph Fall Festival in Olpe has been a tradition for longer than they can remember.
“I do this every year,” said Marie Haag, a volunteer working at the event. “I’ve worked in all of them since I was in grade school. And my mother graduated from this school, so we’ve been doing it for a long time.”
The event, which benefits St. Joseph Grade School, includes a supper and a multitude of games for children, from skee ball to miniature golf. There were prizes for the games ranging from toys to T-shirts to sports equipment. This year the festival also included a raffle, with prizes varying from a hand-made quilt to a pony.
The games bring in a lot of children, while the supper is popular with the adults. The school’s cafeteria was full Sunday evening, and the line of people waiting to eat snaked around the room and up the stairs.
“We get about the same amount of people every year for the dinner,” said the Rev. Anthony Williams. “I’d guess it’s about 500 people, minimum.”
In addition to the supper and the games, the festival included Bingo at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Olpe.
“It’s a very important event,” Williams said. “All of the funds go to the school.”