With highs in the 100s over the weekend, volunteers at the 96th annual St. Joseph School Bazaar reported early Saturday evening that Friday night's turnout had been a bit low and they were hoping for larger crowds Saturday night.
Bingo chairs Jeanie and Tony Brewster said they would be sitting outside tempting people into the air-conditioned hall where the bingo games were held by calling out "ice cold bingo!"
Jeanie Brewster said, "We alternate a lot of callers. We try to keep the games going the old-fashioned way with corn. We keep it reasonable 50 cents per card. Everyone can play. The kids like it. We have men's prizes, ladies' prizes and kids', that way everybody wins."
Bazaar midway co-chair Tommy Lawrence is one of a few who work on the bazaar year-round. During the event, he said, "We coordinate the midway, games, food; construct the stand; get electricity set up. With a lot of help from church members. It takes the whole church. Really the whole community."
Despite the lower-than-hoped-for attendance on Friday night, Lawrence said, "(Tonight) we're having the live auction. That should bring some more people in. The only thing hurting us this weekend is the heat."
Gerard Martin was the auctioneer Saturday night.
"I've been a part of (the bazaar), ... but this is the first time I'm going to be the (auctioneer)."
He said the auction is "very exciting. It's wonderful to see all these people and they're here for the school. It's wonderful to see them here for that cause."
Of the items up for auction, he guessed a murder mystery dinner for eight to 12 people might be the most popular.
"I was part of that last year. I think there's a lot of interest in that. It went for $1,600 last year. It may go for more than that this year."
As volunteers were getting ready to open the midway, diners sat under trees enjoying food offerings such as hamburgers, barbecue and Mexican food.
Parishioner Helen Kordsmeier was sitting among friends enjoying a barbecue sandwich.
Asked why she enjoys attending the bazaar, she replied, "I enjoy visiting with everyone."
Blake Benton was setting up the hat stand on the midway. He has been in charge of the stand every year for 12 years. Players pay $1 for three numbered paddles, and a wheel is spun. The player whose number comes up wins a hat.
"Last night it was a little down because of the heat, but usually we do pretty good," Benton said.
Matthew Shofner, 6, and his brother, Michael Shofner, 5, were some of the first to "catch" prizes at the fishing booth. They both landed pirate stickers.
Matthew said of the bazaar, "It's really fun." He said his favorite part was "the tires," referring to an inflatable obstacle course.
Patricia McCauley, or "Miss Mac" as students in her art classes at St. Joseph School call her, was manning the face painting station on Saturday.
"With the humidity it's really hard," she said. "The first time one of the kids wipes their forehead, it's gone. But they enjoy it for that moment when it's done."
Asked what brings her out to the bazaar year after year, she said, "It's my school. I support it any way that I can. It's for a good cause and whatever I can do, I do."
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
