By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A menagerie of animals isn’t seen every day at a church, but this Saturday a petting zoo and pony rides will be among the attractions at Trinity Episcopal Church downtown.
The church will host its 6th Annual Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15 at 317 Franklin Street. Youngsters will get to see and feel animals up close during the event, as well as enjoy pony rides, an inflatable bouncy and slide, carnival games and face painting.
There will also be food – and lots of it. Parishioners will sell authentic Brunswick stew made from an old family recipe and more than 30 cakes will be given away during the cake walks.
Additionally, there will be live music from two members of the band Last Train, more than 10 silent auction gift baskets, five door prizes and shopping.
There is no admission price, but there are charges for some features. It is $5 for one pony ride of 10 laps. Additionally, it is $5 for a bracelet that allows children to play games, get their faces painted and enjoy unlimited use of the bouncy house.
Children can watch the zoo animals free of charge, but to feed the animals it costs $2 to $5, depending on the amount of food purchased.
The event is a fundraiser for the church’s activities and missions, including F.U.E.L., the food subsidization program for school children.
“This is the first time we’re doing the petting zoo and we’re really excited,” says Kendall Welsh, one of the event’s organizers.
Children get to ride ponies during the festival./Karen Parr-Moody
The “Shopping with a Purpose” segment of the event includes two enterprises that help people help themselves: Ten Thousand Villages and Thistle Farms.
Ten Thousand Villages sells handmade gifts from around the world; profits go to improve the lives of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.
Products include Fair Trade baskets, jewelry and crafts.
Nashville-based Thistle Farms is a nonprofit that sells natural body care products made by women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction. The program supports Magdalene House, a 2-year residential community.
The making of Brunswick stew is a time-honored tradition that only happens once a year; parishioners cook it in two huge cast iron kettles, allowing it to simmer for four to five hours.
“It is the kind of food that you wait all year for the chance to eat again,” says Kate Smith, one of the event’s organizers.
Welsh adds, “We do have people who are giddy about it. I mean, they’re giddy!”
Among the stew’s ingredients are chicken, lima beans, corn, potatoes, onions, tomato sauce and seasonings.
People can place stew pre-orders until 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 by calling the church at 931-645-2458. It is $7 per quart for pre-orders and $8 per quart the day of the festival.
During the festival, church volunteers will sell a $3 children’s meal of hotdog, drink and chips. The Brunswick stew will be $3 a bowl and $5 for a bowl with a drink and chips or a roll and a drink.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.