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Monday, 16 June 2008 |
By KELLY BYER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The Holy Rosary Festival’s good food, drinks and entertainment continue to draw a crowd every year.
This year’s festival continued that tradition with the familiar chicken dinners, cake wheel and carnival rides.
All attractions are a far cry from the festival’s humble roots.
“It started out as a family picnic,” event chairman Bruce Miller said.
The picnic began in the 70s and grew into what it is today. Some new features added to the event this year included a game of beanbag toss and Guitar Hero, raffle booth representative Vicki Hale said.
St. Marys resident Peg Murray said she was there to take her grandson on rides and enjoy the food and atmosphere. She comes to the festival each day every year.
“I see a lot of people that I haven’t seen for a long time,” Murray said.
Wapakoneta resident Melissa Rockwood and some friends also said they attend the event every year and find it to be an enjoyable time for children.
“(The) kids have fun,” Rockwood said.
During the second weekend in June, the festival has a little bit of everything to interest almost anyone.
St. Marys residents Scott Armstrong and Kim Magato, who attended the festival with Rockwood, said they each enjoyed a different aspect of it.
Armstrong said the cake wheel and beer tent interested him the most while Magato said the festival food was best.
The Holy Rosary parking lot and side streets also were filled with a variety of other activities.
The grand raffle held Sunday night offered six prizes of different amounts with the grand prize of $2,500.
Sounds of The Wannabees entertained the crowd Friday night followed by the Dueling Piano Show on Saturday and the Borrowed Time Band on Sunday.
Cincinnati resident Scott Steinke said he came to St. Marys to visit with relatives and have a few drinks at the festival. While it’s been about six years since he last attended the event, Steinke said he values the community and the good people within it.
Although rain dampened the festival Friday afternoon, the sky cleared up by Friday evening allowing for the Holy Rosary festival to get into swing.
Hale said the weather for the event had been pretty nice and looked like it would continue to be good throughout the weekend.
Miller said the festival typically brings in $35,000 to $45,000 for Holy Rosary, depending on factors such as weather.
While the exact amount for this year’s event won’t be known until later this summer, all money raised from the festival will go toward supporting the church.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 20 June 2008 )
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