More than a dozen craft and food vendors gathered for the fourth annual Lansford Alive Fall Festival on Ridge Street Saturday.

Theevent was organized by Donna Valent, Kim Novak, Bobby Dobosh and Chris Ondrus."It took about four of us to really do the leg work," Valent said.Planning began in midsummer with new and returning vendors. Boyer's donated 150 pumpkins for the children to paint."They enjoyed it. The goal is to bring positive to Lansford," Valent said.Andy Leibenguth performed magic tricks for children in attendance while well-known vocalist Angela Nardini sang for the crowd.The former St. Katharine Drexel and St. Francis of Assisi churches came together to prepare homemade food, including local favorites haluski, halupki and bleenies.The line for the made-from-scratch treats stretched from the sidewalk to the middle of the street."We're working for a good cause. Our hearts and souls are in this," said Louise Dunstan of St. Katharine.The group worked for three to four days to prepare."It took 40 cups of flour for the homemade noodles," Dunstan said.Gourds, vegetables, fruit and fall mums were on display for sale at Valley Road Farm's table."The peaches and tomatoes have been the most popular," said Louanne Bachert.Mums were popular too.Across Ridge Street, the American Legion Post 123 sold chicken dinners.According to volunteer Noreen Hine, the legion baked 80 full chickens for over an hour and a half before glazing the poultry on the grill.Katie Mertz baked and donated 46 chocolate chip cookies to be sold at the Lansford baseball and softball table."The cookies have been popular," said Mindy Turrano. "The money we raise will go toward the leagues. Any new equipment the kids need.""Basically anything to keep the program up and running," said the mother of two baseball players.STEP-Up Carbon hadpetitions on-hand regarding the creation of drug courts in Carbon County."We've tried to hit all the festivals in every town," said Todd Zimmerman.The letters signed will be collected and presented to President Judge Roger Nanovic in an effort to bring a new solution to a rapidly spreading opiate issue."It's definitely a community problem," said Cindy Henning.Friends of Lansford Pool sold gallons of apple cider as the crowd grew during the late morning."There's a lot of people out, it's nice to see that," said volunteerMarlena Miksic."I grew up here and the streets would be full. It's died down now but they are really trying to bring it back, it's great," said the lifelong Lansford resident.Resident Christine Frank stopped by the festival to pick up some fall decorations."I saw it on Facebook and thought I'd bring my son down to walk around and do some pumpkin painting. Just to see what it's all about," she said.Several area crafters and artists sold their wares along the block long festival, including 13-year-old Matthew Yurkanas of Palmerton.It takes him roughly five minutes to create his ethereal canvasses."Lansford Alive reached out and asked if he would come and sell his art and I said, 'most definitely,' " said mother Kelly Yurkanas."It gets bigger and bigger every year. It's great to come out and do something for the community," Miksic said.Valent said the group will host another Fall Festival on the last Saturday of September next year.