Prizes galore will be available through an event held at the 26th annual Palmerton Community Festival.

The lunch bag raffle, previously known as the Chinese auction, will be sponsored by Pool Pals of Palmerton Memorial Park, according to Susie Arner, festival chairwoman."This year we have over 250 prizes, with something to appeal to just about everyone no matter what age size, male or female," Arner said. "There are tools for the men, housewares and decorative items for the homemakers, toys and novelties for the kids, gift certificates for local restaurants, and stores for anyone."Additionally, Arner said, "There are some filled baskets where you may find almost anything assorted in them."Arner said tickets may be purchased at the tent during the weekend. The drawing will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, she said.Proceeds from the auction benefit the Palmerton Memorial Park, as well as activities sponsored by Pool Pals, she said.The local Santa in the Park, held annually on the first Saturday in December, is one of those events, as is the community egg hunt held at the Palmerton Memorial Park grove area, she said.Arner said each summer there are frequent special event days at the Palmerton Memorial Pool, and Pool Pals coordinates and sponsors those events, such as Carnival Day with free pony rides; Fun Day with games and prizes; Old-Timers Day with prizes for the adults; as well as others."Over the many years, the proceeds have paid for the basketball courts at the pool, helped with the funding of the water slide, and the volleyball court," she said. "We have purchased a new freezer for the pool concession stand, and supported the cost of maintaining the pool and Memorial park."Arner added, "After the festival annually we donate a large sum of the proceeds to the board of directors of Palmerton Memorial Park for their use in maintaining this wonderful facility."