The weather is slowly dipping in temperature and Thanksgiving is nearing, which means the 24th annual St. Raphael Fall Festival is right around the corner.

Renaissance Committee President Oscar Gamble said the festival began as a charity fundraiser with a little tent and a bounce house with a few rides in the back corner of the property.

“It kind of grew from there,” he said.

This year the festival will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15; from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16; from noon to 1 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.

The food booth opens at noon on Sunday and the festival opens at 2 p.m.

The festival will include carnival rides for the bigger kids and adults, as well as rides for the children. Games and various food specialties will also be among the activities.

Gamble said a highlight is the international food court, which features Haitian, Jamaican, Italian and Spanish foods.

“We consider it a very multicultural food court,” he said.

A bake sale with goodies for reasonable prices also makes up the festival, and there is a beer tent for the adults.

Entertainment is another draw, with such groups as Irish step dancers and there is a pie eating contest for the kids.

A silent auction will be held Thursday through Sunday, which Gamble said people love.

There are a few specials for the community to enjoy for the festival, which includes a Midnight Madness from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday for $20.

“That’s a pretty good chunk of time for $20. You can ride a lot of rides,” Gamble said.

On Saturday, a special matinee pricing, unlimited rides for $15, is offered from 1 to 4 p.m.

“We get a lot of families coming in for the matinee,” he said.

Another sale happens before the festival kicks off. Tickets and armbands can be purchased at the church office, or after the 8 a.m. Mass Monday through Friday until Wednesday, Nov. 14, at noon.

“They will do a presale at the church for $45,” Gamble said of a four-day armband of unlimited rides.

The armbands can be purchased at the festival for $55 for four days of unlimited rides.

“The pricing we have had this way for years because it benefits families and others that want to do this stuff,” Gamble said. “We are looking forward to having great weather. It’s a great way to kick off the fall and holidays.”

He said people in the community come out and continue to participate year after year.

“It’s been a big piece of the community,” Gamble said.

For more information, visit srfallfest.com, or call (239) 369-1831.

The festival will be held at 2514 Lee Blvd.