Every fall, church members throughout the area come together for a tradition that out dates the church buildings themselves: the fall harvest dinner.

What began generations ago as a small-town tradition has successfully been passed on through the generations. This year in Austin and the surrounding areas, dozens of churches are rolling up their sleeves and preparing for their annual dinners. And while the general tradition behind the dinners is shared by all, the main courses vary from church to church — generally depending on the establishment’s heritage.

For the Norwegians, it is, of course, Lutefisk.

“In Blooming, we’ll get over 1,500 people for a one day deal,” said Marilyn Blume, co-chairman of Blooming Prairie’s First Lutheran annual lutefisk dinner.

The annual event is an example of the type of church dinner that attracts flocks of people from around the area. And, in this case, the region.

“Last year, there was a couple from the Twin Cities, people from Iowa and from over in Wisconsin,” Blume said. “There are men who have calendars they carry and they mark all the Lutefisk dinners around.”

This year, the dinner is set for Sunday, Oct. 19. If previous dinners serve as any indication, this year’s get together will pack the house.

“I think people just like to get out, enjoy the scenery and they know it’s good food,” Blume said. “They’ve enjoyed it in the past with their friends and family and they want to keep doing it.”

That’s typically the case for most church dinners, which tend to attract families and groups of friends who have made them an annual tradition.

At Grace Lutheran Church in Austin, the fall meatball dinner has become a major part of the church’s fellowship.

“It’s kind of a tradition,” said Bev Richmand, a member of the church. “It’s a fundraiser, for one thing, and it’s a time for the members to come together and work on a project.”

Lavona Johnson, a member of Grace Lutheran Church since 1951, compares Grace’s meatball dinner to the gatherings celebrated by church goers years and years ago.

“It all probably started out as a time way back when people were rural,” Johnson said. “It was like a thanksgiving to God for giving them a good crop. It’s a tradition that has carried through.”

In this area of the country, the harvest season church dinners are typically held in late September through the middle of October. Because many of the meals are of the home cooked style, they generally require the fixings yielded from the year’s crop. With corn and potatoes serving as side dishes for roast beef and chicken, church members always know there will be plenty of supplies on hand to feed the hundreds that typically attend the events.

“It takes quite a bit when you serve a family style dinner,” Johnson said. “They can eat however much they want and we have the real mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots and salads.”

And, for those like the folks at Grace Lutheran, it’s also a prime time for natural decorations.

“One of the gals here is a farmer, and we decorate each table with gourds,” Johnson said.

Johnson herself is a fan of church dinners and dedicates a few nights every year to attending her favorite ones.

“We usually go to two church dinners: Elkton’s Ham dinner and Lyle’s beef dinner,” she said.

Like many, Johnson looks at the events as opportunities to gather with friends, meet new people, and, best of all, enjoy a wonderfully home cooked meal.

Some church dinners pair the meals with a party.

That was the case this year for Red Oak Grove Church, where an auction, pig roast and dance was held to raise money for the congregation.

“It’s a fundraiser, and we just want to get the people to come and enjoy themselves,” said Blume, who also works as the secretary for Red Oak Grove Church. “It’s really for families, too.”