On Oct. 8 and 9, Cathedral School will celebrate its 169th annual Fall Festival!  This is one of the longest running festivals in the South. The whole community is invited to come out and enjoy fun, fellowship, family and friends. There is something for all to enjoy during the weekend.

Bring your children and grandchildren from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Oct. 8 to enjoy the midway games, cake walk, photo booth, art projects, face painting, and more; and, of course, the delicious foods like our traditional juicy burgers. You can buy casseroles, scratch cakes, crafts, books, Cathedral merchandise and homemade candy.  Raffle chances will be available for various prizes including $5,000, an Apple iPad, Beats headphones, a flat-screen TV, ‘Basket of Cheer,’ gasoline gift certificates, TG McCary portrait session, and a set of Vera Bradley luggage.  Be sure to participate in the Dodge Drive Event, too. Also, don’t forget, the ever popular class theme baskets will also be on display. The baskets are available through a silent auction which begins on Saturday and ends at 2 p.m. Sunday. Every year these baskets get better and better — a sight to be seen.

The fun continues Saturday night with the Adult Paddle Wheel. Plates of barbecue ribs and bowls of gumbo will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. for take-out in Center Drive. Dinner inside the Cafeteria will begin at 6 p.m., and the paddle auction starts at 7 p.m. We have had many wonderful prizes donated from the very generous Miss-Lou businesses and individuals to make up our prize packages which include a trip to Hawaii, Saturday Night at Home, a meal prepared for you and friends at your home by Chef Bingo Star featuring a custom built farm table, a week stay in Destin, Fla., and much more. Our very popular Wall of Wine will be back this year, better than ever! Please visit Cathedral’s website www.cathedralgreenwave.com to see a full list of packages and instructions on how to purchase pre-sold paddles.  Adult Night will also feature The Will Wesley Band from Baton Rouge until midnight.  Come join us for a fun filled night of prizes, food, drinks and music.

The festival continues Sunday with the traditional Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings.  Dine in the cafeteria or curb side take out will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The Midway games, food, raffles, and other activities will continue on the elementary playground and in the Multi-Purpose Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  As the midway activities come to an end, the ever popular Bingo in the Cafeteria begins.  Bingo begins at 2 p.m. and lasts until 4 p.m.  The winners for the raffle items will be drawn during bingo.  At 4 p.m. we will close the doors on another successful and fun-filled Fall Festival weekend.

Lindsey and I, as well as our co-chairmen Forrest and Julie Johnson, would like to personally thank all those who have given so generously in time and support towards this worthy cause.  The entire school community, parents, alumni, students, faculty and friends all work together to make this a success.  It would not be possible without the generosity of the Miss-Lou businesses and individuals.  We invite the entire community to come out and enjoy the fun!

Katherine Callon is the chair for the 2016 Cathedral Fall Festival.