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
St. Mary’s Cultural Festival will take place at the parish in York, June 16 from 5-9 p.m. and June 17 from noon-9 p.m. Our multicultural parish invites you to experience the tastes, sounds and traditions of various North and South American cultures. Enjoy flavorful foods, listen/dance to live music, play a variety of children’s games, and celebrate the diversity of our county. Fun for all ages! Game and food tickets can be purchased the day of the event.
St. Joan of Arc in Hershey will have its 49th Annual Parish Festival, June 8-10 from 5-9:30 p.m. each night. Fun for the whole family, including children’s games and activities, silent auction (prizes include Father Al’s Dinner for 10, Father Josh’s slushy party, autographed Christian Pulisic jersey and a trip to Sicily) raffles, plants, bake sale, crafts and more! Musical entertainment by Guitars 4 Vets on Thursday, Big Mama and The Velvet Martinis on Friday, and Crossing Abbey Road on Saturday. For more information, call 717-533-7168 or visit www.sjafestival.com.
St. Joseph Parish in Berwick is having an “Italian Food Palooza” under the pavilion on Sundays July 30 and September 17, featuring a pasta and meatball dinner; meatball, fireball, porkette, and sausage and pepper sandwiches. The Council of Catholic have a sweet treats table. There will be a money raffle and basket raffle. The Palooza is from noon-3 p.m., take-out only. In case of rain, the event will be held in the church hall.
St. Benedict the Abbot Parish in Lebanon will have its Summer Food Festival, June 2 and 3 from 4-8 p.m. Burgers, hotdogs, fries, tacos, tamales, halupki, haluski, pierogies, rice with pigeon peas, pork, empanadillas, bacalaitos and corn fritters. There will also be beer, small games of chance, raffle baskets, baked goods, bingo on Friday and a chance to win $500. Free admission.
Prince of Peace Parish in Steelton will host its annual Parish Picnic at Cibort Park in Bressler on Sunday, July 16 from noon-6 p.m. Roasted lamb on the spit, pork, hamburger barbecue, sarma (pig in a blanket), Schmidt’s sausage, hotdogs, cabbage and noodles, baked beans, ice cream and an array of baked goods to include apple and cheese strudel, lemon pita, walnut roll and many other ethnic foods. All are invited to attend the picnic and enjoy a day of good food, music for your listening and/or dancing pleasure and entertainment for the children. Our Kolo Club “Marian” will perform a medley of songs and dances. Mass will be celebrated at the park by Father Jonathan Sawicki at 11 a.m.
St. Cecilia Parish in Lebanon will have its festival on the grounds of the parish center on State Drive, June 8-10. Dinners served inside from 4-7 p.m. include lasagna on Thursday, a fish fry on Friday and a chicken barbecue on Saturday. Attic Treasures flea market begins at 4 p.m. Food court is open from 5-10 p.m., and the midway operates from 6-10 p.m. Entertainment by Firestorm on Thursday, the Luv Gods on Friday, and Galbraith, Briody & Friends, with the Black Blue Horns on Friday. Sugar cookie and strudel sale, kiddie land, chance booth, games, inflatables, beer garden, barrel train, homemade baked goods. Food includes hotdogs, hamburgers, fries, haluski, sausage, fish sandwiches, chicken tenders, ice cream, Sirro’s Italian Ice, and funnel cakes. Bring your lawn chairs. No outside coolers, please.
Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Middletown will have its summer festival June 22-24, rain or shine, on the parish grounds. The festival runs from 5-9 p.m. and includes a flea market, cash raffle, basket raffle, jewelry extravaganza, bingo and games for all ages. Patrons can enjoy great homemade meals of honey glazed baked chicken, pasta with meatballs, halupki casserole, pierogies, haluski, chicken Caesar salad, and baked goods in the cafeteria each night. Outside food includes Schmidt’s sausage, gourmet chicken cheese steaks, seasoned fries, and funnel cakes. Friday and Saturday only: Farm Show milkshakes. Live entertainment every night: Thursday is the Dave Kelly Duo; Friday is Dovetail; Saturday is Crossing Abbey Road. Friday and Saturday nights also feature fun for kids with a 60-foot long, two-lane obstacle course with a 17-foot slide and bounce house. Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is located at 280 N. Race St., Middletown, PA 17057. For more information, visit www.ssbvm.org.
Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish in Myerstown will have its annual Summer Fest, June 22-24 from 5-10 p.m. Food court, games, raffles, bounce houses. Book sale is 4-10 p.m. each evening. Live music all three nights from 7-10 p.m., featuring Sunset Road Band on Thursday, Firestorm on Friday, and Blessing & Fowler on Saturday. Find more information on Facebook @MGHSummerFest.
The annual St. Joseph Carnival in York will be June 13-17 from 5-10 p.m. Now in its 30th year, the carnival is bittersweet this year, as it is the Capuchins’ last year at St. Joseph Parish; pastoral care of the parish will be under the charge of the priests of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The carnival began when Father John Daya, remembering the big parish carnivals of his younger days, launched the inaugural Little York Fair – the annual St. Joseph Carnival. The carnival has changed from its humble beginnings, but community involvement remains steadfast, with dedicated parishioners giving countless hours of preparation and volunteer efforts totaling 2,000 hours. This year’s event will include food trucks: Authentic Italian Ice, Baltimore Style Pit Beef, Brickers Fries, Crazy Heifer, Mac’s Pit Stop, Mamma’s Meltz, Marcello’s Pizza and Sam & Jo Gyros. There will be a wine and beer garden, kids’ games, bingo, games of chance and a $10,000 raffle Saturday night. Entertainment by Ni Riain School of Irish Dance on Friday, and the Acoustical Band – Bring Us Mountains, on Friday and Saturday.
The Annual Buchanan Valley Picnic will take place on the grounds of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Orrtanna, Saturday, August 26 from noon to dusk. Event will be held rain or shine and includes Bingo, prizes and live music. Family-style home-cooked dinners are $16.50 for adults, $7 for children 6-12 and free for those 5 and under. The parish is located halfway between Gettysburg and Chambersburg off Route 30; follow the signs at Route 234.
The Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius will host their summer festival, Saturday, July 8 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Villa Sacred Heart in Danville. The event will include baked goods, a flea market, furniture sale, a variety of food trucks, bingo, a silent auction, book sale and arts and crafts. Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica at 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Roaring Creek will have its annual parish picnic, Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5 from 4-9 p.m. Favorite picnic foods of pigeons, pierogis, potato cakes, barbecue, haluski, hotdogs, hot sausage, rice pudding and hand-dipped ice cream. The event will include baked goods, raffles, a beer tent, theme baskets, money wheel and kids’ games. Entertainment Friday by Hypnotic Sounds DJ, and Saturday by Muckdogs Band. No pets or coolers, please.
Mother Cabrini Parish in Shamokin will have a picnic food sale, Saturday, July 22 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the parish hall. Sale features the parish’s famous piegons, haluski, hamburgers with Coney sauce on the side, and potato cakes for take-out only. The parish’s “Prizes Galore” event will take place during the food sale, as well as on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parish hall. A drawing of prizes will be July 29, with sausage hoagies, water and soda available for sale that day. Basket raffle tickets are $15 per sheet and $10 for each extra sheet.
San Juan Bautista Parish in Lancaster will have its annual Hispanic festival, July 26-29 (6-9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Friday, and 4-11 p.m. Saturday) on the parish grounds. Experience Hispanic culture, music and food. There will also be a raffle featuring two prizes of $5,000, one prize of $2,000 and three prizes of $1,000. Free admission.
St. Patrick Parish in Trevorton will have its annual festival on the parish grounds, August 11 and 12 from 5-10 p.m., with an “Animals Around the World” theme. Event includes ethnic food, games, bingo, theme basket raffles and prizes. Entertainment on Friday by Lite Switch from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and by Looker on Saturday from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Holy Angels Parish in Kulpmont will have its parish picnic, August 4 and 5 from 4-10 p.m. Fantastic menu, games, basket bonanza, bake sale, yard sale and 50/50 cash raffle. Entertainment Friday by Lite Switch from 7-10 p.m., and by Looker from 7-10 pm. Saturday. Fireworks display Saturday at 9:45 p.m.
Immaculate Conception BVM Parish (St. Mary’s) in Berwick is holding a food fest on Sunday, August 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Parish Center at 1730 Fowler Avenue, Berwick. Food is for take-out only. Offerings include halupki (piggies), halushki, potato pancakes, tamales, cheesesteaks with choices of toppings, and homemade baked goods. There will be tickets for sale for a basket raffle and a money raffle.
St. Ann Byzantine Catholic Parish in Harrisburg will have its annual Slavic American Festival, Saturday, August 26, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy great homemade Eastern European food to eat-in or take-out. Enjoy continuous entertainment by the Polka WHOOO and Pure Pop, play games for young and old, tour a beautiful church, see world class iconography, shop at the Eastern European gift shop, win at the huge basket raffle and play bingo. Vespers service at 5 p.m. Parking and admission are free. Visit www.stannbyz.org.
