HAVERHILL — A festival that sprang as a diversion from hardship is returning for an encore performance.

Ohio Furnace Enterprise Baptist Church is having a fall festival and gospel sing on the church grounds Saturday. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $1.

Last year six vendors participated in the festival. This year it has increased to 25 vendors. Some of the activities include crafts, face painting, a petting zoo, inflatable playhouse and hay rides. A chiropractor and free health screenings are also available.

Another expansion from last year includes food options. The items include beans and cornbread, cheese nachos and deserts.

The event will have a silent auction. Prizes include tickets for a Marshall University home football game and a one night stay in a king suite at the Ashland Plaza hotel.

There will be a dessert auction also. Women from the Ironton Furnace Church will make desserts and auction them off.

The featured act at this year’s festival is Wade Spencer, a gospel bluegrass singer. The Ohio Furnace Youth Group, Willowood, Randy Patrick and Tracy Pennington will also perform.

Last summer, flooding occurred around the Ohio River, causing damage to the church building and all over the area. Still, a few months later fun could be found.

“We needed to show the community we were still here,” Kyle Stormes, Ohio Enterprise assistant youth director said.

Even with the variety, one event did get nixed.

“We were going to put me in a dunk tank but I said no. It’s going to be too cold,” Stormes said.

The church is located at 3132 Haverhill Ohio Furnace Road.