FentonSays.com Articles

Bird's Eye View of the annual St. John's Applefest

What began as a small parish ethnic festival 36 years ago has evolved into the area’s largest autumn festival. Held on the grounds of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton, MI, the St. John Applefest has become a community event that draws families from Fenton, Linden, Holly, and all over the tri-county area. As the largest parish festival in the Diocese of Lansing, Applefest provides friendship, festivities, food, and – most of all – fun for people of all ages.

Visit the official St. John’s Applefest web site!

Chat about your favorite experiences at the St. John’s Applefest in the newly revamped FentonSays Fenton Forums.  All opinions are welcome, but be sure to play nice.

Get directions and maps to the 2008 St. John’s Applefest.

Tommy vlogs from Tyrone Valley Conference Center. Summer is time for camping in Michigan, and the Fenton area is no exception. Children love going off to camp with the family, or what we used to call “sleep away camp,” or even day camp away from the parents. There are many choices for parents and children to enjoy religious or secular camps and camp grounds in the Fenton area. We are glad that Tommy Swindol has decided to share a little bit about his experience. Enjoy!

Well known entertainer, Casey Kasem, will be coming to Fenton on Saturday in honor of “Casey Kasem Day.”  With ties to Fenton, Michigan, Mr. Kasem has graciously accepted the invitation to come and help raise funds for the Fenton Community & Cultural Center.  The FCCC is raising money to fund a large addition and expansion.  Casey Kasem is here to help.

Tickets will run $75 and include a whole host of fun activities.  To kick of “Casey Kasem Day,” there will be a viewing of the movie “Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico” at the St. John Gymnasium below the main floor of the St. John Activity Center.  Seating for the Scooby-Doo movie will begin at two-thirty in the afternoon and the show will start at three o’clock.  At five o’clock in the evening, ticket holders can join Casey Kasem for an intimate dinner in the Grand Hall of the Saint John’s Activity Center.  Food for this event will be provided by The French Laundry.  Following, at eight o’clock in the evening, a concert with Mr. Kasem and John Waite will be held at the Fenton High School Auditorium.

Tickets for just the Scooby-Doo movie will be $5 per child or $20 for the whole family.  These tickets can be purchased at the Fenton Community and Cultural Center or Little Professor Book Store.  Tickets may also be available for purchase at the door.  Committee members Dave Ameen, Bob Burek, Pat Lockwood, Jan Rynearson, Dawn Placek, Shelly Day, Raul Alarez, Maria Dockens, Bob Cole, Roger Sharp or Brian Petty can also assist you in securing the full $75 event tickets as well.

NorthPointe Church in Grand Blanc would like to invite you to take a peek at their Baptist mission with the following video hosted on YouTube and brought to you by FentonSays.com. Their Sunday Celebration begins at 10:30 A.M.

Click the play button above slowly to start the video

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

The time is upon us, the Christmas season is here! Jinglefest 2007 is here in Fenton, Michigan. Most of the events are held in Dibbleville, but as the event continues to grow, our city gets to enjoy the sprawl of the holiday good cheer.

Following is the Jinglefest 2007 events schedule as we know them to be. As always, FentonSays makes absolutely no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the information (we’re pretty sure we got it right, but if you find an error, please let us all know about it in the comments section … thanks!).

And Merry Christmas, Fenton!!

Friday - November 30th

7PM - 11PM - YAC JingleJam for Teens
$5 admission - Youth Advisory Council
Where? The Fenton Community & Cultural Center

Saturday - December 1st

ALL DAY - Holiday Shopping
Restrooms available at Fenton Community & Cultural Center, and the Family Life Center United Methodist Church

ALL DAY - Ice Sculptures on Display
Where? Along South Leroy Street

9AM - till cookies run out - Cookie Walk
Where? Fenton United Methodist Church-Narthex

10AM - 12PM - Write a Letter to Santa Workshop
Where? Vision in Motions Dance Studio - Dibbleville

10AM - 4PM - Annual Gift of Art Show - Fenton Artist Guild
Paintings, jewelry, pottery, glassware
Where? Fenton Community & Cultural Center (Lower Level)

10AM - Rotary Tree Decorating
Where? Bush Park / Rotary Park

10AM - 4PM - Santa Paws Pictures for Everyone
Sponsored by the Animal Health Clinic
Where? Front of Fenton Community & Cultural Center

11AM - 4:30PM - FREE Horse & Wagon Rides
Sponsored by Dort Federal Credit Union
Where? Old Fire Hall at 210 South Leroy

11AM - 12:30PM - Lunch with Santa
Tickets: $6.00 includes lunch and a gift.
For more information, call 629-2512
Where? Fenton Community & Cultural Center

11AM - 4PM - Community Cafe
Where? Fenton Community & Cultural Center Auditorium

12PM - 3PM - Guitar Hero Contest
Cost: $5, for more information call 629-2512
Where? Family Life Center - Fenton United Methodist Church

12PM - 3PM - Family Christmas Craft Workshop
Where? Family Life Center - Fenton United Methodist Church

12PM - 7 PM - Entertainment at Fenton Community & Cultural Center

• Kidz Theater Kompany 12PM - 12:30PM
• Fenton School of Dance 1PM - 2PM
• Peltonen School of Dance 2PM - 3PM
• Hand Bell Choir 2:30PM - 4:00PM
• Guitar Hero Finals 4PM
• Santa Pictures 7PM

2PM - 4PM - Write a Letter to Santa Workshop
Where? Vision in Motions Dance Studio - Dibbleville

3PM - JingleJog 5K Run Registration
Where? Old Fire Hall at 201 South Leroy Street

5PM - 7PM Free Hot Chocolate
Where? Vision in Motions Dance Studio - Dibbleville

5PM - JingleJog 5K Run Start
Where? Leroy Street at River Street

6PM - JingleJog 5K Run Awards Presentation (prior to parade)
Results will be posted in the Old Fire Hall
Where? On Grandstand in front of Fenton Community & Cultural Center

8PM - 11PM - Night Jams
Top 40 & Contemporary Christian Rock Bands
Where? Family Life Center - Fenton United Methodist Church

Sunday - December 2nd

ALL DAY - Holiday Shopping
Restrooms available at Fenton Community & Cultural Center, and the Family Life Center United Methodist Church

ALL DAY - Ice Sculptures on Display
Where? Along South Leroy Street

12PM - Fenton Lakes Chorus
$5 admission - Sweet Adelines International
Where? Fenton Community & Cultural Center

1PM - Fenton Lakes Chorus
$5 admission - Sweet Adelines International
Where? Fenton Community & Cultural Center

One of the most popular attractions at the Saint John Applefest is the Attic Treasures Tent. Think of it as a huge, consolidated subdivision garage sale where one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. There are some serious deals to be had, and the word is getting out.

When do you find the best of the best deals? Right at the very beginning before the items have had a chance to be combed over, of course. And here is where the “Treasure Hunt” comes in … For a $3 entry fee, you can get into the tent today (Thursday, September 13th) before the general public! “We always have a large waiting line before the festival opens at 3PM, so we decided this would be a good way to get people into the tent early and make a little more money (for the church),” said Kathy Williams, chair of this event.

FentonSays.com has some conflicting information on when this early bird special on the Attic Treasures Tent. The Tri-County Times, in an article in the September 9th edition, states that the “Treasure Hunt” is from 1PM until 3PM. However, the St. John’s Applefest website states that the early bird period is only an hour between 2PM and 3PM. And you readers know that FentonSays is about blogging the rumors instead of always checking the facts. But there you have it. We might suggest showing up at 1PM to be safe, and if the tent flaps don’t open until 2PM you can always fill that time with an apple pie or carnival games.

Applefest History
By Jan Rynearson, Features Editor, Tri-County Times

St. John Applefest 2007, the 35th annual, promises to be bigger and better than the past 34.

Although it had small beginnings, the festival has grown into one of the largest and most profitable events at any one parish in the entire Diocese of Lansing.

From September 13-16, 2007, the parish grounds will be crowded with activities to delight people of all ages.

It begins Thursday afternoon with the opening of the midway rides and events at 3pm. The annual opening prayer is read before everything opens.

More than a parish fundraiser, the Applefest is regarded as Fenton’s fall festival (the Fenton Freedom Festival is the city’s summer Fourth of July celebration).

The event draws approximately 100,000 people and those of all faiths look forward to attending. Former Fentonites, who have relocated across the state and out-of-state, often return for the event.

Calendar of Events
Thursday, September 13th
Food Tent
Padre’s Chili
Opening Prayer (3:00 pm)
Midway Opens (3:00 pm)
Attic Treasures (3:00pm)
Fenton High School Jazz Band (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
Entertainment Tent (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
Food Tent Closes (9:00 pm)
Midway Closes (9:00 pm)

Friday, September 14th
Midway Opens (3:00 pm)
All Events and Food Tent Open (3:00 pm)
Attic Treasures (3:00pm)
Fish Dinner (4:00 pm - 7:30 pm)
Road Race Registration & Packet Pickup (6:00 pm - 9:00 pm)
Bingo (6:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
Entertainment Tent (6:00 pm - 12:00 am)
Night-n-Reno (7:30 pm - 12:00 am)
Food Tent Closes (10:00 pm)
Midway Closes (10:30 pm)

Saturday, September 15th
Road Race Registration & Packet Pickup (7:30 am - 8:45 am)
Pancake Breakfast (8:30 am - 12:00 pm)
Road Race(s) (9:00 am)
Midway Opens (10:00 am)
Food Tent Opens (10:00 am)
College Football on the Big Screen (12:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
Ben Spitzer Magic Show (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
Bingo (1:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
Chicken Dinner (3:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
Attic Treasures (3:00pm)
Texas Hold’em Tournament (5:00 pm - 11:00 pm)
Entertainment Tent (6:00 pm - 12:00 am)
Food Tent Closes (10:00 pm)
Midway Closes (10:30 pm)

Sunday, September 16th
Pancake Breakfast (8:30 am - 12:00 pm)
Bingo (1:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
BBQ Pulled Pork Dinner (1:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Attic Treasures (3:00pm)
Raffles (7:00 pm)

A $3.8 million project is well underway at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Fenton, Michigan. This is Phase 2 of the G.I.F.T. campaign. The following video presentation featuring Father David Harvey explains the need for the expansion project.

From YouTube subscriber, spartanbando, about this project, “The informational video for the GIFT II (Growing In Faith Together) campaign of St. John the Evangelist, Fenton, MI. We hope you enjoy learning more about our GIFT II campaign, and ask that you prayerfully consider the call to stewardship for your parish community. The gift of your treasure is needed and will benefit this and future generations of the faithful in Fenton.”

Click the picture a couple of times to get the video started.

Come see the classic cars on August 4, 2007 at the Tyrone Covenant Presbyterian Church at 10235 White Lake Road. It is just a quarter mile west of US-23 from exit 78. The hours for the event are between 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Bring the kids for FREE ice cream sundaes, a big bounce house, face painting, a fire engine and model train display.

“The Fathers Love” Children’s Camp
Parkway Community Church
2940 Georgetown Parkway
Fenton, MI 48430

June 11th-15th for any children who have completed grades 1-6.

For more information, please call (810) 714-5252