While the Knights of Columbus managed the cooking, volunteers served Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Harvest Festival prime rib dinner. Pictured from left are Maclovia Curiel, Maria Solis (back row), Teres Gonzales, Malba Mota, Sandra Mota and Maria Sanchez.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley Moose Hall was bursting at the seams with guests Saturday evening, Nov. 7, as the Knights of Columbus St. Mary’s Council No. 12527 and Sacred Heart Catholic Church hosted their annual Harvest Festival.

Parking and seating were hard to find shortly after doors opened at 5:30 p.m. as guests turned out early for a tender prime rib dinner with all the fixings and the opportunity to participate in several prize-winning activities.

Tickets for the dinner and various raffles and prize giveaways were available at the door.

Guests visited after enjoying their meals, socializing, laughing and sharing memories. Pictured from left are Edson Smith, Vicki Smith and Amber Bozzo.

Whether they intended to dine or play, it was difficult to ignore the smell of the prime rib dinner prepared by cook Javier Solis.

Solis, also a dedicated Knight of Columbus, sourced high-quality cuts of meat, which he began marinating three days in advance of the evening’s meal. He also directed crews assisting with meal preparation and service, efficiently running a kitchen that kept plates full throughout the fundraising dinner.

In addition to dinner, guests were welcome to browse an enticing selection of prize giveaways, including air fryers and expensive bottles of wine. The silent auction drew multiple bidders for items such as a brand-new electric scooter.

Winning tickets were drawn every 15 minutes from the raffle drum, with GroverLee Dahl calling out the winning numbers.

Mike Dahl smiles as he helps run the Raffle Mania prize giveaways while his wife, GroverLee Dahl (not pictured), calls out winners every 15 minutes.

It was a tight squeeze to fit all that activity inside the Moose Hall’s cozy quarters, and organizers acknowledged that this year’s Harvest Festival had to be scaled back.

Raul Leanos, who has worked behind the scenes for years, said organizers planned for around 200 guests because of the smaller venue.

Leanos also reported eliminating the traditional “country store” game and cake booth, popular attractions at the 2025 event, to accommodate the limited space.

Despite the changes, the Harvest Festival appeared to be a success. Guests were visibly enjoying themselves, whether taking a lizard’s leap in the older children’s area filled with carnival-style games, visiting with friends and community members or simply dining and dashing.

“We believe we served over 250 people,” Leanos said, recounting the evening.

Getting the cook out of the kitchen for a minute was no easy task. Javier Solis (center), the man behind the dinner, smiles alongside his wife, Maria (left), and daughter Rebecca (right). Javier kept the grill going throughout the evening while Maria worked the serving line and Rebecca checked on guests and delivered salads.

Leanos previously said the fundraiser aimed to raise $5,000 for necessary repairs to the church’s rectory, where its priest, Father Joyle, lives.

“I think we exceeded that ($5,000 goal) because of the silent auction and the raffles,” Leanos said, adding that the final numbers had not yet been totaled.

Substantial donations for the silent auction and prize giveaways came from community members, businesses and individuals within the church.

Leanos recognized Margaret Hughes and Dan Bozzo as major supporters of the church fundraiser. According to Leanos, both donated numerous gifts and bottles of wine to support the church’s fundraising efforts.

On behalf of the Knights of Columbus and Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Leanos thanked everyone in the community who helped make the event a success, from volunteers to those who donated.

The Knights of Columbus and volunteers kept busy in the kitchen, preparing salads and making sure the serving line never ran out of the main course.