Free Community Fall Festival Returns Bigger and Better for Its Sixth Year
Writer / Natalie Gargiulo
Photography Provided
Access Church is gearing up to host its sixth annual Free Community Fall Festival on October 8. The event, held at the church’s location at 1402 West Main Street in Lebanon, has become a highlight on the community’s calendar, drawing hundreds of attendees from all walks of life. 
The festival’s inception occurred seven years ago when the organizers approached the mayor of Lebanon, seeking to identify a missing aspect within the community. The response was clear: a lack of free, all-encompassing events for the residents.
“We didn’t have anything that was free for the community, so we decided we would have a fall festival completely free so everyone could join,” says Tiffany Koehler, children’s pastor at Access Church. “Since then the festival has grown in scale, with last year’s event attracting over 800 people.”
Running from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the festival offers a diverse array of attractions for all age groups. Attendees can expect bounce houses, magic shows, a silly safari presentation, train rides, pony rides, and even an array of mouthwatering treats from On the Go Catering including hot dogs and chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes.
Visitors can also indulge in snow cones and hot chocolate, and partake in activities like an inflatable racetrack for adult-sized tricycles, a cornhole tournament, professional face painting and balloon artistry, to name a few. New this year is the Happy Bubbles station, an exciting addition from Foam Happy that promises a massive, bubble-filled experience.
Koehler says the event is designed to cater to families and community members of all backgrounds.
“We want everyone to get the full event experience,” she says. “Our thinking behind the fall festival is that if people don’t have a home church, then we hope that people just come to the festival and feel loved by the church doing something good for the community.”
Prizes will also be given at the event, including a free Nintendo Switch paired with a $50 gift card, as well as a raffle to win a family membership to anywhere in Indiana.
Parking for the festival is available at the Budweiser building located behind Access Church. Dedicated parking attendants will guide visitors to available spaces, making sure that parking remains hassle-free.
For more information about the Free Community Fall Festival or Access Church, visit myaccess.church.
Affiliated with the Assemblies of God, Access Church is a beacon of friendship and community engagement in Lebanon. With programs catering to all age groups and a reputation for fostering a friendly environment, the church has become a source of positivity for residents.
