The Pool Pals of Palmerton Memorial Park’s lunch bag raffle will make its return to this year’s Palmerton Community Festival.

Formerly known as the Chinese auction, the lunch bag raffle has been around for many years, according to Gretchen Laviolette, Pool Pals event coordinator.

“The lunch bag raffle has been around for many years,” Laviolette said. “We have probably between 150 and 200 items that are being raffled off, very similar to a basket raffle.”

Laviolette said there will be everything from clothing to household items, gift certificates - many of which have been donated by local businesses - and other prizes that have been donated as well.

Tickets can be purchased all throughout festival weekend up until 4 p.m. Sunday, when the drawing for each item starts.

“Proceeds from this do help with improvements that we need to make at the pool, of which we’ve had quite a bit over the years,” Laviolette said. “It helps to put on the special event days that we have at the pool throughout the summer.”

In the past, Pool Pals has paid for basketball courts at the pool, purchased freezers for the concession stand, helped pay for a water slide and other repairs to the pool.

“We’re very excited to be back this year with the understandable cancellation last year,” Laviolette said. “We hope to be able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for everybody.”