Autumn Festival this Weekend

The carnival rides may change and the food booths might be slightly different than last year, but the continues to be good, old-fashioned family entertainment.

Now in its seventh year, the fundraiser for  averages more than 6,000 attendees, said event chairwoman Riza Santoro.

The goal is to bring the whole community together, have fun, enjoy each other's company and meet new people, she said.

For the church, this is one time where everyone gets together, she said, from the ministry to the parish to the

"This is one time where everyone can be involved," she said.

All food booths are run by the parish. There's the usual hot dogs and hamburgers, but what's new this year are fish n' chips, wing dings and a booth just for sweets such as cotton candy. On Sunday, attend a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.

Bingo, held most , will be open during the three days of the festival. Winnings start at $100 per game.

Musical styles vary from the South Bay Kids, a nonprofit performing arm of the , to the Big Band Millenium Orchestra. Mike Amaral’s California Beach Boys Tribute Band is scheduled to perform on Saturday night.

Nine carnival rides from a new vendor will be set up. Classics such as the Ferris wheel and giant slide will be available, as well as Zendar, the spinning wheel that pins its riders against the wall with centrifugal force.

• What: Autumn Festival
• Where: 
• When: Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (booths close at 6 p.m. on Sunday)
• Cost: Free admission and parking
• Parking: Serra Shopping Center lot 
• Ticket sales: Discount tickets available before the festival at 20 tickets for $10. Starting Friday, 24 tickets will cost $20.
• Pancake breakfast: $5.50, no advance tickets this year.

For more information, visit sjbparis.ipower.com/festival/index.html.