Five years ago, Young Life LaGrange wanted to start a fundraiser that brought the community together. Group leaders considered a golf tournament, but there are already many golf fundraisers in existence. Plus, not everyone knows how to golf.

Other ideas were tossed around as well, until someone threw out a unique idea — a cornhole tournament.

“Somebody on the Young Life committee heard about someone in Atlanta doing a cornhole tournament, and there was nothing like that in LaGrange,” said Young Life LaGrange Area Coordinator Allen Crawford. “We tried it the first year and tons of people came out and played, and we’ve done it ever since. You’ve got a set number of people who play golf, but cornhole if you move your arms, you can get out and play. It casts a pretty wide net.”

This year’s tournament will take place Sunday at 2 p.m. at Sweetland Amphitheatre. Crawford said usually around 35 two-person teams take part, but it looks like there could be more than that this year. Approximately 30 teams have registered this year, and additional teams are welcome to walk up and register before the tournament starts Sunday.

This will be the second time the tournament is taking place at Sweetland. The first three were at the Callaway Memorial Tower.

Young Life will use the proceeds to continue its work with children in the community. Young Life already has a presence at Gardner Newman Middle School and LaGrange High School and plans to expand into Troup High School.

“We have 20 Young Life leaders in LaGrange, who week in and week out are spending time with kids, getting to know them, going to their concerts, their plays, their practices, eating breakfast with them and building friendships with them and earn the right to share Jesus with them,” Crawford said. “Our leaders share lifelong friendships with kids.”

Funds from the cornhole fundraiser help the group take a camping trip each summer and hold group Bible studies throughout the week.  To register for Sunday’s event, visit lagrange.younglife.org. The cost is $20 per student team and $40 per adult team.

“It’s just a really fun, family-friendly event that is all going to help support and grow Young Life in LaGrange,” Crawford said. 

Other events this weekend include LaGrange College’s “A Night at the Opera.” The event features Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury.”

The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and non-LaGrange College students. The shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Also on Friday, the “Volley for Verandah” fundraiser will be held for McClusky Tennis Center. The event will take place at Del’avant and will benefit the tennis center’s renovation project.

Tickets are $75 and include fine cuisine and an open bar with catering by The Rose Cottage of Pine Mountain. The evening will also include entertainment, dancing, karaoke and a silent auction.