COEUR d'ALENE - Cancer and Community Charities (3Cs) is gearing up for its 13th annual Fall Fest, taking place from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.

The autumnal celebration serves as the second fundraiser of the year for the 3Cs. The Fall Fest evening will include a full buffet, beverages, auctions with a professional auctioneer, raffles and entertainment by the Blazen Divaz.

"It's that wonderful fall feeling," said Fall Fest chair Bobbi Freeman.

"It's more like a date night, too, because a lot of husbands do come to this one," said Marcia Saunders, 3Cs publicity chair. "A lot of singles do too. We have a lot of tables that are just women, but we have a lot of couples."

Guests will have opportunities to bid on more than 100 live and silent auction items, such as a professionally hand-built garden arbor, "happy hour" baskets of adult beverages, a Jim Grassi fishing trip, golf and spa packages and a $1,000 Hagadone Hospitality gift card.

The Fall Fest has previously had as many as 350 guests and averages about 250 each year, but when it comes to raising money with the 3Cs, the more the merrier.

"We raise our money all year long and then in August of each year we have the appropriation celebration," Freeman said. "That's my favorite one because everybody's so happy. We had 30 recipients this year, and I just love to see their faces; they're so happy to be up there."

In 52 years, 3Cs has given away more than $1.8 million to numerous nonprofits and charities in Kootenai County, including $88,000 this year.

Tickets to the Fall Fest are $40 ($20 tax deductible) and include the buffet and two drink tickets for wine or beer. For reservations, call Saunders at 773-4909. For information about Fall Fest, contact Freeman at 667-1479 or visit www.ccc-northidaho.org.