Mount Calvary Christian School's Benefit Auction and Kids Fest might take place on school grounds, but the event offers something for everyone, whether they are connected to the school or not, said Eric Stone, auction chair.

"This is a community event, especially with the Kids Fest," he shared. "Kids will have a good time. They'll have a lot of fun, and this event gives everyone the opportunity to interact with our school in a very informal way."

The auction and Kids Fest will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, at the school, 629 Holly St., Elizabethtown.

Friday's festivities will begin with dinner at 4:30 p.m. "We'll be serving Harvey's BBQ pulled pork, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, a dinner roll and a drink," said Lindsay Norris, director of development and community relations for Mount Calvary Christian School (MCCS). Dinner will be available for dine-in or drive-through pickup at the school's west campus, 35 Elm Ave.

"The meal is a great option for someone looking to not cook on a Friday night," she said. "Even if they don't come to the auction, they can pick up an easy dinner."

Friday evening will also feature a variety of live and silent auctions, with Hess Auctioneers overseeing the live auction portion.

"This year, we're focusing on experiences," Stone said, noting that auction items might be vacation trips or tickets to sporting events. "One of our big features for Friday night are the class baskets. Each elementary class puts together a basket with a theme."

On Saturday, the event will begin with an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast starting at 8 a.m., followed by live auctions starting at 9 a.m. The breakfast will feature scrambled eggs, western frittata, buttermilk pancakes, cheesy hashbrown casserole bake, sausage links, bacon and a variety of beverages.

Saturday auction items will range from home decor to tools, sports memorabilia and toys, Norris said.

Along with the auctions, Saturday will feature Kids Fest from 9 a.m. to noon, with live music from Jared Erb and opportunities to explore a touch-a-truck zone along Holly Street, a portion of which will be closed to traffic for the festivities.

"Our Kids Fest will feature carnival games, inflatables, a bounce house, an obstacle course, face painting," Norris said. "We really want the general public to come and have fun." A small admission fee will be charged for Kids Fest.

Proceeds from the auction and Kids Fest will be used for operating expenses at the school. MCCS serves 800 students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

"The main way we use the funds is for furthering the mission of Mount Calvary and allowing us to encourage more students to have a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ," Norris explained. "This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and our largest attended event. It brings in over 1,000 people from the community."

Organizers have set a goal of raising $300,000 over the two-day event.

While the event is designed to bring the local community onto school grounds, it also offers ways for people who live outside of the area to support the school. New this year, the silent auction will be conducted via an app that anyone can access.

"You don't have to be there to win, and you can bid on lots of different items, including gift cards," Norris said. Items up for grabs will be showcased online closer to the auction date.

Tickets are required for Friday's dinner and Saturday's breakfast and must be purchased by Friday, Sept. 19. To purchase tickets or for more information on the auction and Kids Fest, visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/Hny.