At St. John's Herr Estate's annual Fall Fest, you never know what you'll find - maybe a $5 TV, a singing Chihuahua, or just a whole lot of laughter. Part indoor yard sale, part bake sale and all-around good time, the event is as much about fun and fellowship as it is about bargains.

The Fall Fest will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the community, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia.

"We have seasonal items, linens, a plethora of kitchen things, pocketbooks, toys, household items, jewelry," said resident Carolyn Livingston, a member of the Fall Fest committee. "It's probably the biggest sale of this kind around here. It's all in one location. We have a lot of stuff. It's good stuff, and it's inexpensive."

Resident and committee member Andrea Robinson agreed, adding, "You name it, we have it for sale. Where else can you get a TV for $5?"

The community's chapel will serve as the hub for items, with framed artwork expanding out into the hallway and a separate area for books and baked goods, which are made by residents. Food prepared by St. John's staff will be available for dine-in or takeout and will include homemade chicken corn soup, hot dogs, sloppy joes, chips and drinks.

St. John's has been holding Fall Fest for more than 20 years. Items are collected year-round from donations by residents and their families. Robinson and Livingston are members of a committee that sorts and prices the donations. They get together for several hours every Saturday from March until the sale, and they love to keep things light and fun while they work. An animatronic Chihuahua that plays the maracas and sings "La Bamba" is their unofficial mascot while they work, and they always bring out a small plaque to place nearby that sums up their group perfectly, they said. It features small nuts affixed with googly eyes and the words, "Sometimes I think we are all nuts."

"This is our motto to live by," Livingston jokes. "It's a lot of work to get ready for Fall Fest, but the same people keep coming back to help. We have a lot of fun."

She noted that their committee of about 10 residents is just one of several groups who work together to pull off a successful event.

"There is a planning group. There's a group that specifically does baking. There's a library group," she said. "There are a lot of groups that are working on this besides us doing the pricing."

Proceeds from Fall Fest are used to support the St. John's benevolent fund and are donated to local nonprofits, including Hands Across the Street in Columbia.

The Fall Fest is cash only. Parking is available in a large lot at St. John's Herr Estate.