Intercourse Fire Company will host its annual traditional Amish-style wedding dinner on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the station, 10 N. Hollander Road, Intercourse.

The meal will feature an all-you-can-eat dinner that includes roast chicken with filling, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner rolls, fruit cups, pepper cabbage and cooked celery, as well as beverages and desserts.

There is a dine-in or takeout option for the meal. Takeout will begin at 11 a.m., while dine-in will begin at noon. Both options will end at 5 p.m. or whenever food is sold out. There is a varying cost for adults and children from ages 5 to 12. Kids age 4 and under eat free.

"It's all pretty much considered homemade," said Nathan King, deputy fire chief at the Intercourse Fire Company. "We're often serving around 1,000 to 1,100 (people), and it's our last big fundraiser of the year."

King said that roughly three-fourths of people choose the takeout option for their dinner. However, eating in does have its perks. The dine-in option features a buffet-style, all-you-can-eat structure and leaves the opportunity for fellowship with other community members.

"We have some parties of 10 or 15 that'll come," he said. "They'll all just come in, hang out and eat together. There's definitely benefits there."

Diners who choose to leave with their meal will be provided with a donut for dessert, while those who eat in will have the option of vanilla ice cream, raspberry ice cream, cherry pie and pumpkin pie.

Additionally, the takeout option provides diners with the option of Kreider's sweet tea, lemonade or water. Those who eat in will have the aforementioned options, as well as homemade sweet tea.

King said that funds raised through the dinner will go toward the company's general operating budget and capital budget, though he did note that the company is in need of new radios in the near future.

"That's going to cost us well over $100,000, closer to $170,000," he said. "We're applying for grants for that, but we've also prepared to purchase those out of our capital budget if we don't get the grant funding for that."

The fire company does many food-related fundraisers throughout the year, including its chicken barbecue, steak and shrimp dinners, wedding dinners and four breakfasts.

Founded in 1911, Intercourse Fire Company serves the village of Intercourse and Leacock Township. It also provides mutual aid to the surrounding areas within Pequea Valley School District and beyond.

For more information about the company, visit http://www.intercoursefire.com or call 717-413-6373.