FUN AND FOOD DRAW THOUSANDS TO ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL

Underneath the blue sky, the parking lots in front of Prestonwood Baptist Church transformed into fairways of game booths, bounce houses, food courts, train rides, live music and more. With colorful accents of hay bales, scarecrows, pumpkins and mums, Prestonwood Fall Festival came alive on Oct. 31 for the thousands who gathered to enjoy the annual event that rivals a small carnival.

Prestonwood member Rhonda Best of Plano was thrilled that her son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren from Van Alstyne could make it to Fall Festival.

“This is my second year and I love it,” she said. “This is w-a-a-a-y more fun than going door-to-door. The kids were really pumped about getting to come!”

Fall Festival, one of the largest annual events that Prestonwood sponsors, brings many church family members together to reach out to the community. And for this one night, the church family grew by just a little—about 20,000. Although it is led by the Children’s Ministry, all of the ministries help out as nearly 2,000 volunteers are needed to put on this extravaganza—from Facilities and Food Services to the Bible Fellowships, whose members volunteer to set up and run the game booths.

Stephen Leverett and Michelle Fisher (of the Lunsford/Panetti Bible Fellowship) were helping with the kids’ game, “Clothespin Drop.

“This is a great and exciting opportunity for others to experience all that we have here at Prestonwood,” Stephen said. “It’s wonderful that people in the church are willing to give of their time to make this happen.”

Prestonwood member Jean Patterson of Frisco helped operate a bean-bag throw for children. “God gave us the best weather for this outreach. We are having a wonderful time and the costumes are blowing us away!”

With no scary costumes allowed, Fall Festival is truly a family event; and entire families dress for fun in fabulously creative attire.

Anthony, a preteen, was dressed as Moses, complete with long gray hair, beard, walking staff and a cardboard rendition of the stone tablets (Charlton Heston would have been proud).

“The costume was my idea, and my mom got the material and made the clothing part. Did you notice that I wrote the Ten Commandments in Hebrew?” he asked as he proudly showed his costume.

Jana Kelly, attending her fifth Festival, said, “I especially like how the attractions are divided into areas by age interest,” from Stroller Lane to KidZone Boulevard. All of the things her preschool daughters, Madison and Morgan, ages 4 and 5, enjoy were in the section called Preschool Street.

First-time visitors Esmy and Mariana, friends from Carrollton, each brought their two children. “Our children came here to Vacation Bible School and loved it,” Esmy said, “so we thought we’d check this out.”

And the kids were having a great time so they were glad they did, she said.

The games and bounce houses weren’t the only attraction. The fair-like food that included turkey legs, corn dogs and funnel cakes, is enough to attract some folks. Edward and Andrea Rowden and their two daughters, Emily and Sarah, were having a great time in the food court and listening to the Prestonwood Student Music & Worship Ministry perform numbers from their “Best of Broadway” Fall Follies.

“We love it—this is our third year,” Andrea said excitedly. “It’s a perfect community outreach—you can’t drive by and not notice it!”

And notice it they did—some 20,000 strong!