NATCHEZ — A wave of fun activities for all ages will be taking over Cathedral school this weekend during the school’s annual fall festival.

The 2019 Cathedral Fall Festival starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at with carnival games, concessions and activities that both kids and young adults could enjoy on the elementary playground until 2 p.m., said festival chair, Laura McLemore.

Individual tickets to participate in festival games are $1 each, McLemore said — adding each activity requires its own number of tickets for entry.

All of the money raised supports the school, McLemore said.

“We will have the Animal Garden petting zoo this year, which is a new feature to attract some of our younger kids,” she said. “… For our older kids, we will have a basketball goal set up. Those who make a goal will have their name put in a hat for a chance to win the basketball goal.”

McLemore said Cathedral would also host their traditional festival favorites in the multi-purpose room, including Johnny’s pizza and juicy burgers, face painting, cakewalks and opportunities for adults to purchase items and raffle tickets.

“Almost everything you can win is donated by our community, local businesses and alumni,” McLemore said. “We couldn’t do this event without those donations, so we’d like to thank all of those donors. I’d also like to thank my cochairmen (Sarah and Aaron Smith) and the huge team of people who helped put this festival on.”

Items such as casseroles, homemade cakes and candy, arts and crafts made by Cathedral alumni and used books can be purchased as well as raffle tickets for chances to win $3,000 cash, an Apple iPad or Apple Watch, a Ring Door Bell, Beats Headphones, a flat-screen TV, a basket of cheer, a $500 Go Mart gas card, a TG McCary portrait session and a set of Vera Bradley luggage.

McLemore said elementary classes also took up donations to piece together class baskets for silent auction bidding, which hold items such as Cathedral gear, vacation packages and class art projects.

Adult night starts at 6 p.m. Saturday evening in the school cafeteria, featuring dinner catered by The Camp, Roux 61 and BB’s Grill; beverages from Fat Mama’s Tamales, McDonough’s Wine and Spirits and Southwest Distributors and live entertainment provided by Drew David and Bubba McCabe.

To-go meals can be picked up between 5:30 and 6 p.m., McLemore said.

Adults will also have the opportunity to win prizes starting at 7 p.m. during the traditional Paddle Wheel drawing and live auction hosted by Barry Maxwell.

“We have wonderful prizes this year including some great trips,” McLemore said. This year, McLemore said generous Miss-Lou businesses have donated vacation opportunities in Walt Disney World, Mexico, Destin Beach, New York City and New Orleans as well as tickets to an LSU game that includes a two-night stay in Baton Rouge.

Other popular items include various gift cards, a hunting package, furniture, artwork, cooking classes with chef Regina Charboneau and cash prizes.

Individual paddles cost $5 to $25. A paddle package to enter into every drawing may be purchased in advance at the school office or during festival sales for $175 or $200 at the door, McLemore said. Participants who purchase paddles in advance do not have to be present to win, she said.

Mini-paddles for smaller raffle items are also available for $1 each, she said.

The festival continues Sunday starting with a mass led by Father Mark Shoffner at 10 a.m. followed by the continuation of carnival games, sales and auctions from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., McLemore said.

Traditional Sunday fried chicken lunches would be sold from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adult plates are $9 and $6 for children. After lunch, Bingo for the whole family lasts from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in the cafeteria and costs $10 per card.

Participants have the chance to win a kid’s Fitbit, gift cards and a flat-screen TV during a special blackout game.

“The whole community is invited this weekend,” McLemore said. “This is a great, kid-friendly event and we want to welcome everyone. … You can win a lot of great prizes at a really cheap price.”

For more information, visit www.cathedralgreenwave.com.