MONTALBA — The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Montalba Volunteer Fire Department and the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the Montalba Community Improvement Association will be celebrated Saturday during the annual Montalba Fall Festival.

A parade, children’s pet show, arts and crafts, barbecue dinner and live auction are among the activities planned during the festival, as well as several dancing demonstrations, a chocolate pie contest and men’s cake baking contest.

The festival will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Montalba Community Center grounds on Texas 19 North. The parade will kick off at 10 a.m., starting on FM 321, heading to Texas 19 North and ending at the Montalba Community Center grounds, where the festival will continue throughout the day.

The annual exhibit show, housed in the Montalba Community Center, will back nostalgia to old fair days with a selection of produce, home canning and arts and crafts that will be judged and on display for the public.

Free children’s activities will include washable face paintings, temporary tattoos, hair coloring, sponge toss, bean bag toss, bingo and Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

A handmade queen size quilt will be given away during the festival. This quilt was handcrafted by ladies of the Montalba Community Improvement Association. This has been the association’s main fundraiser for over 40 years. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5. Purchase tickets the day of the festival or in advance at all of the local banks. You need not be present to win. For information, call 903-549-2384.

Here is a schedule of events for the day:

• 8:30 a.m. — Most arts and crafts vendors will be ready for shoppers.

• 9 a.m. — Deadline for entries in the exhibits for produce, arts and crafts and judging. Participants are encouraged to have entries in by 7:30 to 8 a.m.

• 9:30 to 10 a.m. — Visit the Montalba Chapel while waiting for the parade to begin.

• 10 a.m. — Parade to start. Margie Cathey will be the parade’s grand marshal.

• 10:30 a.m. — Children’s pet show

• 11 a.m.  — Serving of Montalba Volunteer Fire Department’s barbecue dinners including drinks and homemade desserts begins. Proceeds benefit the Montalba VFD.

• 11:30 a.m. — Contestants entering the Chocolate Pie Contest and the Men’s Cake Baking Contest must have their entry in.

• 11:30 a.m. — Cherokee Cloggers will perform

• Noon — Ballroom dance exhibition by Dance Desires with Diane.

 • 12:30 p.m. — Judging of chocolate pies and men’s cakes. Winning entries will be included in the live auction.

• 12:20 p.m. — Country and Western dance exhibition by Vada and Gus Hughes.

• 12:40 p.m. — Cajun two-step dance exhibition by Judy and Gordon Dupre.

• 1 p.m. — Live auction begins. All other activities, except eating and shopping will take a break for the auction. All auction proceeds will benefit the Montalba Community Improvement Association and the Montalba Volunteer Fire Department.

• 2:30 p.m. — Aaron Jackson, 13, of Palestine, will present an organ recital at Montalba Christian Church, which has acquired a Rodgers 830 electric organ; the instrument will be officially dedicated at this recital.

• 5 p.m. —  Drawings to give away the following: Queen-size quilt, quilted by the Montalba Quilters; patio set; free wedding at the Montalba Chapel, including the services, if desired, of wedding planner Donna Culver.

For more information about the Montalba Fall Festival, call Clay Hamil at 903-549-2384.