When sisters Denise Fisher and Doreen Parker were little girls they moved to the area and began to attend the Wesley United Methodist Church.

At the time, their father, Don Fisher, served as treasurer of the church and helped start the Annual Wesley United Methodist Church Festival.

Now, over 50 years later, the two women have taken on his legacy, with Denise serving as trustee chair as well as running the festival and Parker serving as the secretary of finances.

On Saturday, Aug. 5, the festival was held once again with a variety of craft vendors, raffles, street corn and face painting.

Pastor Virginia Doran said the goal of the festival is to fundraise for different church expenses, including to purchase the building, make repairs to the roof and improve the parsonage across the street.

Doran said, “We have to buy ourselves out. It's a big project, and so that's where the majority of the money is going this year.”

She added the building will cost them approximately $95,000.

However, the festival also serves as an opportunity to bring the community together.

Sarah Newbert said she and her best friend moved from North Kingstown, Rhode Island to Plymouth — right on the border of Wareham.

When Newbert first began attending the church approximately 10 years ago, her daughter, Katy Anzora, was six and her twin boys, Jack and Elijah Anzora, were around the age of four.

She recalls the two boys taking over the back of the church, dancing their way through every hymn.

Newbert said she was worried that while their dances were cute, their behavior was an interruption to the church services. She decided to not attend for a few weeks after. 

However, much to her surprise, the pastor and other church members began reaching out.

They called and text messaged her stating, “You bring those boys back to church. They need to be here. We like to see the dancing,”

She said, “We love it here. It's the best move we ever made.”

Newbert said she also “loves” the pastor, adding, “She is the most real person I have ever met.”

She said her family has been attending the festival for a few years now.

Her daughter also attended the festival — this year to do face painting.

Katy Anzora said her interest in art began when she was around the age of four. Since then, she has pursued art.

Teaching herself through videos, Anzora began to practice her painting on her own legs and then on neighbors.

She said her favorite face paintings are jellyfish and shooting stars.

Newbert said Anzora had the opportunity to tour the Rhode Island School of Design after the college reached out to her.

Though jewelry making isn’t quite the same as face painting, Connor Wallace has also been working to perfect his craft for vending.

Wallace said he began making jewelry when he got a crystal he wanted to wrap a few years ago. After a recommendation made by the church member who runs the thrift store, he began to sell his crafts at the festival last year.

This year, he also had some masks he made with cloth mache, adding these have become a “passion project” of his.  

Kathy Horton was also selling some crafts made by her, her sister and friend, including holiday decorations, jewelry and ornaments made from seashells.

While her sister and friend do not like to do the selling part of crafting, Horton said, “I like going to the fairs and doing the selling. I have fun. I just enjoy it and I like to talk to people and I've been doing this for years.”

The church is also building a prayer circle that will be under a tree in front of the building.

Those interested can purchase a brick to be engraved in memory of loved ones.