Columbia Elementary School and Messiah Lutheran Church both are holding arts and crafts festivals on Oct. 17. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – When October arrives, numerous schools and churches sponsor fall festivals as fundraisers. On Oct. 17, residents can enjoy these hometown traditions at Columbia Elementary School and Messiah Lutheran Church.

The Columbia Fall Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. This year, Columbia PTA decided to sponsor its first-ever festival as a fundraiser instead of the Astro Run. The event is open to the public.

Columbia’s festival will feature food trucks, a silent auction, vendor booths, carnival games, inflatables and contests.

Contestants in the pumpkin carving contests can bring pumpkins to the festival between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Judging will start at 1 p.m.

Parents and other individuals can pay for items in advance, including game tickets, pet parade and pumpkin decorating contest fees at $5 each and additional donations. For these advance purchases, visit squareup.com/market/Columbia-elementary-school-pta.

Pre-ordered tickets can be picked up at the festival on Oct. 17 in the designated area.

Proceeds from the festival will help to pay for Columbia’s playground fence and other PTA programs. Columbia’s address is 667 Balch Road in Madison. For more information, call 256-430-2751 or visit cespta.org or Facebook/Columbia Elementary School.

At Messiah Lutheran Church, local crafters and artisans donate their time, talent, and materials to create hundreds of handcrafted items for the Handmade Market. Market hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All proceeds will buy food for children in Benito Montoya School in Nacaome, Honduras, in affiliation with the Lunches for Learning mission.

Market coordinators suggest that shoppers buy items for birthday presents or Christmas gifts. Seasonal items, like tabletop wreaths, ornaments and quilted tree skirts, will be sold. ‘White goods,’ baked treats and canned jams and jellies will be available.

The market will be held in the parish hall, 7740 U.S. 72 W. next to Redstone Federal Credit Union. For more information, visit mlutheran.com.