New Family Fall Festival fundraiser for 'revitalized' Relay for Life

Oct 24, 2024

LaSALLE — Relay for Life of Monroe County is ramping up its fundraising efforts this year. A brand-new, fall-themed fundraiser debuts Saturday. Organizers say the 2025 Relay for Life will be "revitalized."

The Family Fall Festival is set for noon-5 p.m. Oct. 26 at Kreps Apple Barn & Cider Mill, 12500 Minx Road. Among the activities are a pie-eating contest, corn maze, golf ball drop and junk food walk. Festival admission is $2 per person or $8 for a family. Some activities have additional fees.

“We are working to make Relay relevant throughout the year by hosting events monthly. One of our fabulous volunteers, Karen Kidd, brought this event to life. The goal for this festival is $5,000," said Kristin Pilon, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society. The local, one-day Relay for Life is held each summer and raises money for the American Cancer Society’s fight to end cancer.

“We do not have a date for the 2025 Relay For Life," Pilon said. "We are working right now to confirm a new location, new date and a revitalized event for 2025."

Pilon believes Saturday's Family Fall Festival will host this area's only pie-eating contest.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“Pies will be apple and will either be from Meijer or Walmart,” Pilon said.

The junk food walk will be similar to a cake walk, where participants walk along a path until the music stop. Those on designated spot earn prizes, such as chips and Hostess and Little Debbie cakes, Pilon said.

The festival also will offer a variety of fall make-and-take crafts, food trucks, a duck pond, bobbing for apples, face painting, hayrides, ring toss, corn maze and raffle baskets. Registration and fees are required for three activities: cornhole tournament, pumpkin decorating contest and the pie contest.

"All three of those events have an additional fee: $20 per team for cornhole, $5 for pie eating and pumpkin decorating. Additional information on those three events is posted to our website," Pilon said.

Tickets also are now on sale for the golf ball drop.

“We are still selling tickets, but we will sell no more than 200 of the $5 tickets and no more than 100 of the $50 tickets. Tickets for this raffle are available from any of our Relayers or from Karen Kidd. The winner from each raffle will receive 50% of ticket sales," Pilon said.

Family Fall Festival could become an annual event for Relay for Life of Monroe County. Other upcoming fundraisers already planned for the organization are:

Subscribe Now:For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.

To register for the three activities that require registration, visit RelayForLife.org/MonroeCountyMI or facebook.com/groups/rflmonroemi. For more information about Saturday's festival, contact Kidd at 734-735-0589 or [email protected].

To learn about Relay 2025, including how to participate and volunteer, contact Pilon at [email protected] or 734-624-0571.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler [email protected].