SAVE THE DATE for Our 70th Annual Country Fair: Community Event Is Back and Better than Ever

A country fair brings to the imagination an old-fashioned gathering of a community. It is an event that brings together all ages and walks of life into a celebration of community and fun. As news stories and headlines read constantly of pandemic updates, global disruptions, and economic concerns, this parish celebration invites us all to push these anxieties from our minds to take part in a couple days of fun and joy.

The 70th Annual Country Fair will take place on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14. This theme of celebrating our 70th year doing this event is a reminder that while many things change over time, many things stay the same. Due to the pandemic, this event did not take place the last two years, but this year, it is back and better than ever. “This event is really a time to come together as a parish and a school,” says Gail Lomba, one of the co-chairs for this event. “We are celebrating that the children have succeeded through another school year, our eighth-graders are moving on to their next big stage and just really finding time to enjoy life with one another. This event is going on 70 years strong and that is a wonderful thing to celebrate!”

“Someone once explained to me that this isn’t so much a ‘FUNDraiser’ as it is a ‘FUNraiser,’” Gail says. “We aren’t just a church and we aren’t just a school. It is one big family making the school and parish work. We have to have one to have the other.”

This year, each classroom at the school is undertaking a booth as a special project. The booths will have a unique theme and be decorated with hand-made art by the students of that class. The class with the best-decorated booth will be awarded an ice cream party. Principal Robert Love, extension director Mrs. Lynn Sweeney, and art teacher Ms. Margaret Blanchfield will be judging the booths. Games and events will have an old-fashioned feel to them. Kids’ games and activities will include the cake walk, three-legged race, talent show, etc. Adult games and activities include the wine wheel, roulette table, and bingo.

“We really focus on having something for everyone at this event,” says Fred Messerer, co-chair for this event. “There are games for the kids and games for the adults, plus a lot of food and activities.

“The first time my family participated in this event, it was such a great celebration of starting summer,” he adds. “We love the community of the parish and the school, and this event just has this hometown feel of an old-fashioned summer picnic.”

The fair will be taking place on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be food trucks and games, and the DJ is Disc Jockey Rob.

Saturday’s hours will be 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the activities will additionally include a chili cook-off, talent show, a pie-eating contest, as well as an opportunity to throw a pie at Principal Love. There will also be a dinner in the evening.

“We are really just trying to focus on the old-fashioned side of things,” Gail says. “An old-fashioned country fair was about the community coming together and having fun by putting together activities with what they had. Nothing over the top — just good fun and fellowship.”

Saturday’s festivities will also include a live band. Parishioner Nick Witry will be performing with his band LVVS as a special send-off for his last son finishing eighth grade. Mr. Witry and his various bands have been performing at the fair for years.

“With the times we have been going through, we just can’t take life for granted,” Gail says. “Family is so important, and we need to get together and celebrate. Every moment is precious, and this is an opportunity to get together, enjoy life, and relax. We cherish watching the kids have so much fun because they are our future.”

The 70th Annual Country Fair will take place on May 13 and 14. All are welcome to join the church and school family at this event!