For the second year in a row, Brookfield United Methodist Church will not hold Summer Fest this
August.
However, the church is planning a smaller event and has invited Brookfield Township, groups associated
with Brookfield Local School District, such as booster clubs, and organizations looking to raise funds to
hold independent activities that coincide with the church’s.
Church Pastor Dick Smith said the church canceled Summer Fest because “We’re hesitant to do the kind
of prework, contracts, up front moneys and planning, given the fact that we are still in a pandemic.”
Last year, the church held a rummage sale in place of Summer Fest, and that event went “pretty well,”
Smith said.
promo“We’re looking at doing the same thing,” he told the township trustees April 5.
The church is eyeing the weekend of Aug. 7 and 8.
“It will be right before back to school,” Smith said. “We think a rummage sale’s gonna help a lot of
folks.”
The church is considering inviting a few organizations to set up fundraising booths, and limiting its
efforts to the church property, whereas, Summer Fest also took up the green in Brookfield Center.
“That’s kind of where we’re headed right now; something that would be flexible, something that doesn’t
require commitments back and forth from vendors and us,” Smith said.
Smith invited outsiders to consider holding events on the green.
“There might be some opportunities for people that maybe need to do some fundraising,” he said.
“Maybe, we can do a drive for school supplies for the kids. We’re open to suggestions.”
Smith said he knows the soccer boosters were looking forward to having a dunk tank at Summer Fest to
raise money for new uniforms.
The Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Foundation has held water battles between fire departments at Summer
Fest, and there is no reason they could not hold one in the center, Smith suggested.
Trustee Dan Suttles said it would be worthwhile to discuss participating in the church’s event.
“I think that should be on our radar,” he said