St. Anthony’s

Fun and feasting at St. Anthony’s

It started in 1970 as a simple fair with delicious Italian food in celebration of St. Anthony: the Catholic patron saint of lost items. But in the five decades since, the event — held each time at St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside — has ballooned into a massive community tradition, drawing more than 10,000 people of all faiths and ages. For years, the feast began on June 13 — the date of St. Anthony’s death in 1231. It usually lasts four days, with rides and festival prizes to boot. The volunteer-run extravaganza takes months of planning, and all proceeds go to the continuing of various ministries at the church, such as its senior and youth groups as well as parish outreach to the poor. With the coronavirus pandemic raging last year, event planners came up with a new way to raise funds during an unprecedented time. At the 50th annual feast in 2019, the St. Anthony’s Fathers’ Club, a group of dads who look to better the community and support the parish’s initiatives, hosted its inaugural 5K on the Saturday of the feast, and so for 2021, they brought the outing back and even added a virtual twist so people could participate on their own without having to gather.