The First Methodist Church of Gatesville held its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the 41st consecutive year.
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the church was lively with roughly 30 vendors lined up both outside the church and inside, along with activities for all ages. Some included a kids’ area with bounce houses, a mini “train” ride, mini petting zoo, cake walk and more.
Along with the vendors and activities many of the Harvest Festival staples were found at this year’s event. This includes the Jail and Bail fundraiser, with prominent figures Gatesville and area communities willingly going to “jail” and relying on donations to be let go.
The day included the live auction, with an electric guitar signed by Ted Nugent, a five-piece dining room set, a cap signed by Texas Rangers baseball player Josh Jung, and much more. There were 10 items up for auction, which started at noon.
Various organizations were present at the Harvest Festival. The Gatesville Salvation Army sold homemade crafted pumpkins to raise money for their organization.
Representatives of the U.S. Marine Corps on hand collecting toys early for their Toys for Tots program during the holidays.
The Harvest Fest also held a barbecue lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., consisting of smoked chicken and sausage and several fixings. The meal was also served with banana pudding and a drink. Several items for the lunch, to include chicken, sausage and coleslaw, were donated by Pruitt’s Convenience Store.
According to Harvest Festival Committee member Mary Kafer the event’s success is not only attributed to the members of the Methodist church but also the community of Gatesville.
“It brings all of the community together,” Kafer said. “It brings the whole community together because people all over town participate.”
Kafer said not only did entertainers, businesses and civilians across Gatesville participate but this year they were able to get administrators from neighboring school districts to participate as well including Jonesboro and Oglesby.
The money raised during the event, which Kafer stated is the Methodist church’s main fundraiser each year, directly goes back into the community that helped raise it.
“Last year we gave $4,000 from this event back into the community,” Kafer said.
The church donated to various entities including but not limited to Food for Families, the Care Center, Special Olympics Gatesville and much more.