The lights from rides lit up the night as children and parents walked through the Hokendauquay Athletic Association field for the first annual Hokendauqua Fall Festival.

The festival ran from Sept. 26 to the 29.

Planning started in May according to Hockendauqua Athletic Association (HAA) Treasurer Cheryl Gensey, who helped organize the event.

"After the carnival was rained out, we started planning this," she said.

Gensey described the set up of the festival as "hectic."

"It was difficult getting everything coordinated, getting the call backs and meeting the deadlines," she said. "We pulled something off with such a small amount of time."

The festival included food, games, rides, a flea market and motorcycle ride and show. The Whitehall High School football program had a dunk tank there.

The HAA worked with volunteers from the community, including fire company station 38, St. Stephen's Church and the American Legion Post 739.

"We want to make it a community event," said Gensey.

Each organization played a part in the festival. The church organized the bingo games, the fire station ran the concession stand and the Legion ran the bike show.

Around 25 volunteers from the HAA, church, fire company and Legion volunteered to help out.

The money raised for the festival is split among the participating organizations.

"This is the first time we are doing this, but I think we will do it again," said Gensey.