Community Once Again Ready to Enjoy Our Parish Festival: In-Person Event Returns in June 2021

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on almost every corner of life — and that included our Parish Festival, which became the Parish E-Festival. Our 2020 E-Festival event brought in about $30,000 for St. Jude in late summer 2020. However, organizers and parishioners are once again ready to celebrate the Parish Festival as normal on June 3, 4, and 5, 2021.

Beginning at about 5 p.m. each evening, the Parish Festival includes carnival rides, food, Bingo, Monte Carlo, children’s games, a silent auction, live music, a cake wheel, and more. Most of the fun is organized under tents on the parish grounds. This year, the children’s games will be in the gymnasium. Any fun carnival game or activity that comes to mind, can be found at the St. Jude’s Parish Festival. Plus, there’s all the delicious fair food to be enjoyed — from elephant ears to hamburgers to corn on the cob!

“This is a big undertaking for parishioners and a lot of people pitch in to make this event a reality,” says Bill Kidwell, Parish Festival General Manager and Manager of St. Jude Building and Grounds. “It’s a community-wide event, with a lot of the business community also pitching in.”

Several parish volunteers have been chairing an area since the first Parish Festival event in 1987, or have done so for many years. Bill can’t wait to kick off another year, after last year’s break from the normal festival fun. In 2020, many people and businesses gave money and bought raffle tickets to make up for the loss of revenue with no in-person festival. COVID-19 precautions will be followed in 2021, with many of the events and food being safely spread out.

Bill has been involved in the Parish Festival since the first year, and this will be his 31st and final year as general manager. Scott Strother will step in for the 2022 Parish Festival, and Bill is excited for Scott to bring in new ideas and new ways of overseeing various parts of the event. Bill and his wife, Denise, have also run the Capital Prize for many years. The large prize is $5,000 cash. Also, a 50-50 raffle is run by the Women’s Club.

“Last year, the Capital Prize winner donated the prize back to the parish,” Bill says. “That was really amazing.”

Children can enjoy the carnival rides for all three nights with a $50 wristband. Ride tickets are also available for purchase. For the adults, there will be a DJ on Thursday night, and live music on both Friday and Saturday under the big tent. Also, alcohol will be available for purchase.

This event typically brings in $80,000 or more to St. Jude. On average, 12,000 people attend from throughout the city over the three days.

The primary purpose of the Parish Festival has been to help parishioners get to know one another. It has turned into more than that, but it’s still a wonderful social event.

“You end up getting to know multiple generations, because all ages are out helping,” Bill says. “You work together with them, and you have a lot of fun together and get to know one another.”

Kate Vannoy serves as the communications and advertising chair. This is her last year in this position. Over the years, Kate has enjoyed serving in this position and working alongside Bill.

“This is such a great social event for parishioners — that’s the first goal,” Kate says. “The secondary goal is to raise money for a school or church improvement. You can grab a beer and hang out with friends, or grab a hot dog and push your child around in a stroller.”

Kate would encourage everyone to use their skills to help out at St. Jude’s. This is stewardship and living out our vocation — using your talents for the church.

“It doesn’t take much effort to do something easy to you,” Kate says. “Everyone needs to do what they can do to help out.”

With Fr. Peter Marshall still being in his first few years at St. Jude’s, he has never been part of an in-person Parish Festival. Bill says it’s all about the support of the Pastor to make this event successful.

“Father has only been through a COVID festival,” Bill says. “I am excited to introduce him to the real thing.”

Please refer to the bulletin for more information. If you would like to get involved at the festival as a volunteer, please email Susan Conklin at hungariangmom@gmail.com. To take on a larger role, please email Kate Vannoy at katevannoy@gmail.com or Scott Strother at scottcstrother@gmail.com.

Kate Vannoy and Bill Kidwell gather while working on the first-ever E-Festival in 2020.