It’s summertime, and that means parish festivals! Enjoy food, games, raffles, live music and camaraderie at the many parish festivals taking place throughout the Diocese in the coming weeks. Check back often, as more festivals will be added when their information is received. (Submit your parish’s info to communications@hbgdiocese.org)
Parish Festivals & Picnics
Holy Spirit Church in Palmyra will hold its Spirit Fest on Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6 at the parish from 5-10 p.m. each night. Friday features a cookout of hamburgers, hot dogs and fries, and Next Level Pizza, 717 Tacos, Maddash Grilled Cheese and Farm Show Milkshakes food trucks. Music on Friday is from John Rossey and Honeypump. Saturday features ethnic foods, like haluski, perogi, and halupki, and Blazin’ Swine BBQ, Which Way Sandwich, Stuff’d Steaks and the Farm Show Milkshakes food trucks. Beer garden with domestic and craft brews will be available. Saturday music features Holly Serio and The Bad Toupees. Bingo, cornhole, kids games and activities, and raffles are offered both nights. More details at holyspiritpalmyra.com/summerfestival.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cornwall will have its summer festival July 14-16, with live music, dinners, a white elephant stand, bake sale, basket raffle, big raffle and silent auction. The festival is 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday and 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Thursday features a fish or shrimp dinner for $12 (take-out or drive-through). Friday features live music by Famous Rumors Band, and Saturday features live music by Josh Squared Band. Bring your own lawn chairs.
Immaculate Conception BVM Parish in York will have its cultural festival June 17 from 5-9 p.m. and June 18 from noon-9 p.m. in the parish parking lot. The event will feature various homemade ethnic foods, as well as games and raffles. The games and food kiosks will only accept payment in tickets, which can be purchased on-site. Parking is available on the street, or at St. Patrick Church on Beaver Street, except during the Saturday evening Mass at 4 p.m.
Jubilee Day Parish Outreach in Mechanicsburg, June 16: Jubilee Day is the largest, longest running one-day street fair on the east coast, attracting up to 70,000 attendees to downtown Mechanicsburg. Over the past few years, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish has sponsored a booth at the fair and this year will be joined by St. Joseph and St. Katharine Drexel parishes on Thursday, June 16 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. for outreach during the event. The outreach will give away religious items to fair-goers, both children and adults, while sharing about the Church and the Lord, in a relaxed, “low-key” manner. Families and individuals are invited to help staff the booth for any length of time (service hours acceptable). There will be a training/planning meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 13 at St. Joseph Parish, Mechanicsburg. Contact Deacon Alex Bogdanoff (DeaconAlex@steas.net or 817-304-3603) or Suzanne Bruzga (evangelization@stjosephmech.org or 717-645-9626) for details.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Annville will hold its summer bazaar June 18 and 19 on the parish grounds beginning at 3 p.m. both days. Games, raffles, live music and food, including the parish’s famous sausage sandwiches. Entertainment at 6 p.m. both days, featuring The Mudflaps and the Josh Squared Band. Free admission and parking. For additional information, contact the parish at 717-867-1525.
The Annual Buchanan Valley Picnic will take place at the picnic grove at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Orrtanna, Saturday, August 27, from noon until dusk, rain or shine. Home-cooked family-style ham and chicken dinners will be served all day. Cost is $15 for adults; $7 for children ages 6-12; and ages 5 and under are free. The picnic has been a tradition for more than 175 years and is an old-fashioned picnic with games for children, drawings, bingo, music and good food. For more information, contact St. Ignatius Loyola Parish at 717-677-8012 or stignatiusofloyola@hbgdiocese.org, or visit www.stignatiusofloyola.org.
The Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius will have their Summer Festival in Danville on Saturday, July 9. The festival will have food trucks, baked goods, a flea market, bingo, Sister’s art, and a furniture sale. The event is scheduled from 10:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., with Mass in the Basilica at 5 p.m.
Seven Sorrows BVM Parish in Middletown will hold its summer festival June 23-25, rain or shine, on the parish grounds. The festival runs from 5-9 p.m. each night and includes a flea market, cash raffle, basket raffle, jewelry extravaganza, and games for all ages. Entertainment and food vary by night. Thursday, June 23 features food trucks (Sittin’ Pickin’ Chickin’, The Lucky Penny Burger Co., Taste of Italy, Scoop O Dough, 717 Tacos, ShreddRRz, Farm Show Milkshakes) and Occasions DJs. Friday, June 24 features live music by Crossing Abbey Road (a Beatles cover band), homemade meals (lasagna rolls with meatballs, Polish stuffed cabbage, haluski, pierogies), authentic tacos, Schmidt’s sausage, baked goods, funnel cakes, and Father Sahd’s ice cream waffles. Saturday, June 25 features live music by The Bad Toupees (a classic rock dance band) and homemade meals (lasagna rolls with meatballs, Polish stuffed cabbage, haluski, pierogies), authentic tacos, Schmidt’s sausage, baked goods, funnel cakes, and Father Sahd’s ice cream waffles. For more information, visit www.ssbvm.org.
St. Cecilia Parish in Lebanon will have its festival, June 9, 10 and 11 at 750 State Drive. Meals served from 4-7 p.m. each evening include lasagna on Thursday, fried fish with mac and cheese on Friday, and chicken BBQ on Saturday. Homemade baked goods available. Entertainment from 7-10 p.m. each night features Firestorm on Thursday, LUV GODS on Friday, and Galbraith, Briody & Friends with The Black Blue Horns on Saturday. Attic treasures, sugar cookies and strudel stands open at 4 p.m. Food court opens at 5 p.m., midway at 6 p.m. featuring games, bingo (Saturday at 7 p.m.), kiddie land, a chance booth, and inflatables.
Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Mount Joy will have its 2nd Annual Christmas in July Bazaar, July 16 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on the parish grounds. Event features breakfast, lunch and chicken BBQ dinners, crafters and vendors, basket bonanza, raffle, silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a children’s area. The bazaar will also include two community based events. There will be a “stuff the bus” collection of K-12 school supplies, sweatpants, sweatshirts and children’s socks for Donegal, Elizabethtown, Hempfield and Columbia Borough school districts. There will also be a collection of food items and local grocery store gift cards for the Mount Joy and East Donegal Conoy Christian food banks. Those who donate three items to either cause will receive three tickets for the basket raffle.
St. Joseph Parish in York will have its summer carnival June 14-18 from 5-10 p.m. Event features rides, games, a beer garden, food trucks and a $10,000 cash raffle. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the parish office or at the carnival.
Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish in Myerstown will host its Summer Fest June 23-25 from 5-10 p.m. Event features a food court, games, book sale, raffles, bounce houses and live music. Book sale begins at 4 p.m. Live music by “Sidetracked” on Thursday, “Vertigo Vibe” on Friday, and “The New Individuals” on Saturday. Find more information on Facebook by searching “MGH Summerfest.”
The annual Divine Redeemer Parish Summer Festival in Mount Carmel will take place on the parish picnic grounds and in Divine Mercy Hall on Friday, June 17 from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 from 4-10 p.m. Delicious homemade ethnic and traditional foods, homemade baked goods, live bands and theme baskets. Entertainment on Friday: “Swing Masters Polka Band” and on Saturday evening: “Keep Out Brass Band.”
St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey will have its 48th Annual Parish Festival, June 9-11 from 5-10 p.m. each night. Great homemade food, children’s games and activities, kids inflatable, face painting, silent auction (including a trip to Sicily), games of skill and bingo. Raffle items include cash, beautiful gift baskets, Hershey restaurants, authentic sports memorabilia, and a Christian Pulisic jersey. Shop jewelry, plants, garden bounties, bake sale, crafts and more. Musical entertainment on Thursday is DJ Dave Willey; Friday is Crossing Abbey Road; and Saturday is the Happy Slovenes. For more information, call 717-533-7168 or visit www.sjafestival.com.
Prince of Peace Parish-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church will host its annual parish picnic on Sunday, July 17, at Cibort Park in Bressler from noon-7 p.m. There will be musical entertainment by the Happy Slovenes and Reminisce-Oldies & Motown Band, and our Kolo Club “Marian” will perform a medley of ethnic dances. Menu includes roast lamb on the spit, sarma (pigs in a blanket), roast pork, cabbage & noodles, hamburger barbeque, baked beans and baked goods, such as strudels, walnut rolls, pitas and more. Schnader’s Taters and the PA Dairyman’s Milkshake Van will be at the picnic to add to our menu selection. There will be games for the kids, as well as a basket raffle and cash raffle.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Roaring Creek will have its annual parish picnic on Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6 from 4-9 p.m. both days on the parish grounds. Event will feature favorite picnic foods such as hot sausage, pigeons, pierogies, potato cakes, pulled pork, barbecue, haluski and hotdogs. There will also be baked goods, raffles and adult beverages. Live entertainment Friday by Hypnotic Sounds DJ, and Saturday by Muckdogs Band. No coolers, pets or pre-orders, please.
The Conewago Chapel Picnic will be held July 16 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the picnic woods at 3175 Centennial Rd., Hanover. There will be homemade chicken corn soup, BBQ chicken dinners, hotdogs, hamburgers, French fries, ice cream, funnel cakes, soda and water. Bake sale and take-out soup sales begin at 9 a.m., (bring your own containers for soup take-out; no plastic). There will be bingo, raffles and games for kids and adults. No pets, please.
Immaculate Conception BVM Parish in Berwick will hold its Parish and Community Picnic on Sunday, July 17, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Parish Grove, 1730 Fowler Ave in Berwick. Live entertainment, Car Cruise-In, and favorite ethnic foods including halupki, haluski, pierogi, potato pancakes, fireballs, porkette, Hispanic foods, pizza, home-baked goods and more. There will be basket raffles, a money raffle and a raffle for an electric-powered bicycle. Plenty of off-street parking. Seating is available, or bring a chair and plan to stay for an entire day of entertainment, fellowship and good food.
St. Patrick Parish in Trevorton will have its 23rd annual festival, “Backyard Beach Party,” August 12 and 13 from 5-10 p.m. Ethnic food, games, basket raffle, cash raffle, bingo, nightly entertainment and prizes. Entertainment by “Deuce” class rock music Friday from 7-10 p.m., and “R.A.T.L.” classic rock music Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Bingo both nights from 6-9 p.m. in the parish hall.
St. Ann Byzantine Catholic Parish in Harrisburg will have its Slavic American Festival on August 27 at the parish from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy great homemade Eastern European food to eat in or take out. Dance to a live polka band, play games for young and old, take a church tour, see world class iconography, shop at the Eastern European gift shop, win at the huge basket raffle and play bingo. Vespers service begins at 6 p.m. Parking and admission are free. “No one leaves hungry!” www.stannbyz.org
Holy Angels Parish in Kulpmont will have its parish picnic on August 5 and 6 from 4-10 p.m. There will be a variety of foods, games, the Basket Bonanza, bake sale, yard sale, 50/50 cash raffle, petting zoo and face-painting by the MCA cheerleaders. A fireworks show is August 6 at 9:45 p.m. Entertainment by “The Good Times” from 7-10 p.m. Friday, and “Looker” from 7-10 p.m. Saturday. The Basket Bonanza is available August 8-12, from 4-7 p.m.
