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DALLAS — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church held its annual Summerfest on Saturday, celebrating the 500th anniversary of Lutheranism and joining forces with other local organizations to provide some plain, old family-style fun that would help strengthen community bonds.

Along with staples such as bake sales, live music and dunk tanks, the church also hosted a blood drive, car show and several exhibits. Proceeds will benefit numerous church missions, including support of a youth group and aiding a Dallas family whose home was damaged recently in a fire.

Members of Hi Lites car club of Dallas brought roughly 70 classic cars to the event for spectators and car enthusiasts. Standing at the entrance to the church, club President Ed Smith held a donation bucket, chatting up attendees while assisting with event parking.

“The church needs some money, we say ‘OK’,” he said of the club’s long-standing relationship with the event. “The church does good for this community, how can you not help them back?”

Inside, families were able to browse through tables of books that were for sale and get a brief history lesson of downtown Dallas by means of railroad.

The Back Mountain Railroad Club put a variety of moving exhibits on display for patrons, including a 1930s replica of the downtown area. While wide-eyed children watched the moving trains, adults reviewed area historical maps displayed on an adjacent table. Railroad club member Mike Brinola said the choice to assist the church with Summerfest was an easy one to make, as many of the club’s members are also church members.

As families were enjoying a variety of activities and visiting vendors, Steve Thompson admired some of the classic cars on display. The church council vice president said Summerfest has been an annual fundraiser for St. Paul’s for about 12 years now, and it grows larger with each passing year.

“We wanted to turn the church picnic into something that would be good for the whole community,” he said of how the idea for Summerfest began. “We just want it to be a good day where people can come out and have a fun day.”

Thompson stressed that St. Paul’s also wants to offer the numerous community organizations participating in the event a chance to make their voices heard and gain needed support. One of those organizations was the SPCA of Luzerne County, whose employees and volunteers brought some of the shelter’s dogs to the event in hopes of finding them “forever homes.”

One of the more popular attractions at the event was the dunk tank.

Sitting on a metal bench just above the water, 13-year-old Colin Fetterman egged on numerous attendees who tried their hardest to hit the bull’s-eye. It didn’t take long for someone to make Fetterman eat his words and make a splash.

“I just always wanted to be in a dunk tank, and the opportunity came up,” he happily said as he climbed out of the water and back onto his seat.

Amanda Vitz took a picture as Jeff Caviston tried to dunk Fetterman with a series of fastballs. The duo decided to stop by the event to see what it had to offer.

“Great food, great people, great times,” she said, as Caviston hit the bull’s-eye, dunking Fetterman.

Although she’s a neighbor of the church, Vitz admitted that this was her first time attending the event. But it didn’t take long for the duo to make up their minds about returning.

“We’ll be back again,” she said.

Geri Williams and friends made and sold pies like this lemon sponge pie and other homemade goodies at Summerfest.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TL-07242017-summerfest-2.jpg.optimal.jpgGeri Williams and friends made and sold pies like this lemon sponge pie and other homemade goodies at Summerfest.

Colin Fetterman, Center Moreland, enjoys his ice cream cone at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Summerfest on Saturday in Dallas.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TL-07242017-summerfest-3.jpg.optimal.jpgColin Fetterman, Center Moreland, enjoys his ice cream cone at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Summerfest on Saturday in Dallas.

Steven Thompson prepares to be dunked at the Summerfest.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TL-07242017-summerfest-4.jpg.optimal.jpgSteven Thompson prepares to be dunked at the Summerfest.

Steven Thompson had a refreshingly good time being dunked at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Summerfest on Saturday in Dallas.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_TL-07242017-summerfest-1.jpg.optimal.jpgSteven Thompson had a refreshingly good time being dunked at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Summerfest on Saturday in Dallas.

By Marcella Kester

For Times Leader

Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.