Unity-N-Community first event Saturday

The first Unity-N-Community Fall Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Northside Community Center, 1450 Garfield St.

Organizers are planning to make the festival an annual event.

Organizer RT McCain said, “vendors will definitely be selling barbecue, hotdogs, chips, candied apples, chili and chili dogs.”

Along with the vendors, McCain said, there will be festival and carnival games for youngsters and teenagers. The games will provide an opportunity for interaction, as well as be fun and provide good competition where they may win prizes. Games will include wrap the mummy, tug of war and cornhole.

At 1 p.m., people will have an opportunity to talk with a police officer. McCain explained, this has been a popular portion of other community events and people should have their questions prepared.

Other activities will include a DJ, entertainment, talent show, contests and the evening will end with a hayride.

McCain said organizers are expecting a good crowd at the festival which “will an overall good event. Come out and eat good food” and visit with friends and neighbors.

The center is going through a “remodeling phase” where the building is being revitalized from the nutrition center into a community center, McCain and volunteer Jo Ann Brandon said.

Brandon said, “we want it to be a place for tutoring, homework, as well as an event center where it can be rented for receptions and business meetings.”

McCain said, Wesley Lewis was involved in planning the event and after his passing, the group decided Mr. Lewis would want them to go ahead and have the festival.

Brandon wants to remind the community Imo’s Pizza will donate 10% of its food and gift card sales Saturday to the center.

Anyone wanting more information about the event or becoming vendors Saturday may call McCain at 573-718-0404, Ian Brown at 573-714-0116 or Melvina Johnson at 573-715-1585.