As summer winds down, the residents of St. John's Herr Estate are ready to serve up fun, flavor and fantastic finds during the annual Fall Fest. The event will be held at the retirement community, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

The indoor yard sale will feature a large variety of items, said Carolyn Livingston, who is helping to organize the event.

"We have it set up in departments," she said. "We have jewelry. We have baked goods. We line up paintings along the walls in the second-floor hallway. We have items for the kitchen, decorative items, puzzles, seasonal items, electronics, linens. We have oodles and oodles of books, CDs, DVDs and other mixed media."

As resident Mary Miller stated, "You could almost decorate your entire apartment with everything you find here."

New this year, visitors to Fall Fest will have the opportunity to win a handmade quilt as well.

Along with yard sale items, Fall Fest will feature a variety of food. Baked goods prepared by residents will be for sale, as well as hot dogs, sloppy joes and beverages. Chicken corn soup, prepared by the St. John's Herr Estate chef, will be available by the bowl or quart.

"People can take their food to go, or they can sit in our dining room and eat here," Livingston said.

Fall Fest has been held at St. John's for more than 20 years. Items for sale are donated by residents and their families, and a group of people helps to sort and price everything.

"Originally, we started sorting and pricing a few weeks before Fall Fest," Livingston said. "Last year, we started in April. This year, we started in March. We had so much fun. On Saturday mornings, we would get together and sort and price. We just had a great time."

Over the years, Fall Fest has grown significantly, she shared. It started out just in the chapel of the residence but has since moved into neighboring spaces.

"We've had to keep expanding," she said. "There are items in the chapel. The rotunda has puzzles and children's items and jewelry. Our rec room has been taken over by baked goods, and we had to move the food into the dining room."

Proceeds from Fall Fest are used for a variety of purposes, including to provide holiday gifts for staff and residents in personal care, as well as supporting St. John's benevolent fund and local organizations such as Hands Across the Street, the Alzheimer's Association, the Columbia Public Library and Bookmobile and children's programs of Luthercare, the parent organization of St. John's Herr Estate.

"This is our major fundraiser," said resident Gloria Gordon, who added that Fall Fest will offer something for everyone. "The prices are great. Everything is priced to sell."

Fall Fest is a cash-only event. Free parking is available in a large lot at St. John's Herr Estate.