Belvoir Christian Academy, at 800 Belvoir Ave. in East Ridge, invites the community to its annual Fall Festival Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. This year's theme, "BCA, Past, Present and Future," celebrates the school's 125th anniversary.
Ryan, Shane and Kyle Berry, from left, spend family time together at the Belvoir Christian Academy Fall Festival in 2010."We definitely have a long history in Chattanooga," said BCA Parent-Teacher League President Emily Patton.
Event proceeds will benefit the league, which fulfills BCA teacher wish lists. In years past, the PTL has helped purchase computers and laptops for the school computer lab and classrooms.
A pre-festival rummage sale will begin at 8 a.m. in the school gym, showcasing furniture, computers, household items, books, decorations and stereo equipment. Teen Challenge will receive what is left over from the sale.
At the festival, barbecue plates will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Plates are $5 each for barbecue pork, baked beans, cole slaw, potato chips, a dessert and tea. Guests can also choose a $3 plate with a hot dog, chips, soft drink and cookie.
A $25 armband or four tickets for $1 will allow children to play a variety of festival games including Rolling Video Games, an inflatable obstacle course, pin the tail on the lion, a golf putting green game, Tri-State Lanes of East Ridge donated realistic bowling game, fishing game, cake walk and Christmas tree toss, as well as receive face and hair painting and temporary tattoos.
"We can all look back and acknowledge in our elementary years and remember how much fun we had at a carnival," said Patton. "I want the students to have this memory of the fun they had at Belvoir Christian Academy when they were little."
She said children can also take a hay ride behind the school or take a whack at an old car in front of the school with a mallet. East Ridge business Trantham's Service Center donates the car annually.
Indoors at the festival, children and parents can visit the General Store and view about 600 glass jars filled with a variety of items ranging from candy to coffee to dog treats to pencils and erasers. The jars are sold to festival patrons for 25 cents to $3 each.
Additionally, vendors will sell Tastefully Simple, hair bows, magnets, painted jewelry, Premier jewelry and Dixie Home crafts.
Door prizes such as restaurant gift cards and toys will be given away throughout the day. A BCA silent auction will include multiple theme baskets such as spa and pampering, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, camping accessories, coffee, tea, kids arts and crafts, scrap-booking, backyard barbecue and family night.
Entertainment will be demonstrations from a local children's gymnastics team led by BCA teacher Angela Meyer.