In 1952, St. Joseph Catholic Church had its first summer festival at 357 S. Washington St. Although many changes have occurred since then, the festival has become an annual tradition.
The 60th annual festival is set for 3-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
Rose Horn, a member of the festival committee, has been signing up volunteers over the past several months to work in the cafeteria and in game booths. About 30 volunteers, students and adults, came together to make the homemade noodles that are to be served with chicken dinners and chicken soup.
Article Photos
PHOTO BY MARYANN KROMER
From left, Tim Rock and Scott George assist Rick Recker and Roger Perry to assemble the food stand for this weekend’s St. Joseph Festival.
"We have a lot of students from the school help out. ... We have 'professionals' make the dough and the kids do all the running to set it on the tables to dry," Horn said.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary, Crystal Traditions has crafted 60 limited edition glass Christmas ornaments at a cost of $25 each. These are to be for sale at the 2012 festival.
The festival committee has added some other new features, including a zip line, a rock climbing wall, bounce house, giant slide and Pirates' Revenge, a pirate ship that swings back and forth.
The Spartan Express Train is to be back again this year.
"The Spartan Express Train is our own ride. One of our parishioners, Phil Broadman, had a lawn tractor and he built a wooden train that he pulls behind it. He does that every year," Horn said. "The zip line and rock climbing wall are for the older kids. The bounce house, giant slide and Pirates Revenge are more for younger-age kids."
The general store is to open at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday in the activity center. Adult games of skill and luck are to be offered both days. Children of all ages are welcome to play bingo in the old school gym or find other activities of interest. A face painting artist is to create original designs for younger children 3-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-2 p.m. Sunday.
"It's a special kind of powder paint that's supposed to stay on for the day. You're supposed to be able to just wash it off," Horn said.
A Texas Hold 'em tournament is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday in the air conditioned Upper Room. The buy-in is $40 with no re-buys. For teens, the festival has added a teen dance 8-10 p.m. Saturday in the activity center. The admission of $2 includes bottled water, raffle prizes and music by a DJ.
As in past years, a grand prize of $10,000 is to be raffled. Second prize is $1,500 with third and fourth prizes at $500 and $400, respectively. Chances are $1 each.
The Super Raffle booth will have chances on $1,000 gift certificates from Deckers and Ewald Furniture stores and a Maytag front-load washing machine from Phillips Electric. Other area businesses and sponsors have donated more than 60 items to be raffled, as well.
Plenty of festival food is to be for sale on the grounds. Choose from bratwurst, chicken noodle soup, ice cream, funnel cakes and pieces of pie and cake. A new pulled pork dinner is to be served at 5 p.m. Saturday in the air-conditioned cafeteria. The menu includes a pork sandwich, cole slaw, baked potato, drink and dessert for $6.50.
Sunday's food feature is baked chicken, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans or cole slaw (or applesauce), rolls, beverage and dessert. The cost is $8 for adults and $4.50 for children ages 4-10. The dinners can be carried out or picked up at a drive-through on South Washington Street behind the school. Signs will be posted.
New Riegel Jacket Co. is to perform at 5 p.m. Saturday with the band Swing Shift at 8 p.m. Sunday, the stage is to feature children's entertainment 12:30-1:30 p.m. The Dave and Glenn Duo is to play 3:30-6 p.m. followed by The Late Show 7-10 p.m.
The prize drawings conclude the festival.
Horn said the festival is an important event.
"The proceeds from the festival help the parish provide a subsidy for Calvert Catholic Schools," she said.
