File photo The annual Snowfest raised almost $60,000 last year for NUACS.

NEW ULM — A new Snowfest tradition begins this weekend at New Ulm Area Catholic Schools (NUACS).

The annual fundraiser is getting its first-ever yearly theme. Snowfest: Get in the Game will present sports-themed activities, food and prizes this year.

The event starts at 3:30 p.m. Saturday and runs through the evening, in St. Anthony Elementary.

“This year we decided to add a theme, just as a way to brand the event a little bit,” Development Director Sara Rieland said. “We thought with the Super Bowl being in Minnesota the weekend after our event, we would piggyback on that.”

A silent auction with about 100 items runs until 7:30 p.m. Dinner is served 5-8 p.m., and the live auction starts at 8:30 p.m., with games running throughout.

At the end of the live auction, the last item will raise money specifically for the robotics program.

At 9:30 p.m. the raffle for a grand prize of either a two-person sports vacation or $2,500 will be drawn. Tickets are $10 and are sold by Cathedral students and in both St. Anthony and Cathedral High School offices and will be available until the drawing.

The new theme is intended to put a new spin on a classic event at NUACS to increase its attractiveness.

“We thought if we could add a fun spin to it, we could attract some new people,” Rieland said. “We are working hard to attract our younger parents and community families to the event.”

The annual event raised almost $60,000 last year for NUACS. It is the largest fundraiser for the school, paying for a significant portion of education costs.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.