July 1, 2009

Parish festivals offer fellowship and fun while raising vital funds

By John Gleason

Across the Archdiocese of Denver, summer festivals give parishioners an opportunity to enjoy food, games and entertainment while raising money for church needs or the parish school. Here is a partial list of upcoming festivals.

Holy Family
On July 10-12, Holy Family Church at 4380 Utica St. in northwest Denver, will host its annual bazaar, which will include grand prize drawings of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500.  The event will feature the bazaar’s famous Italian sausage sandwiches, fine Mexican food, and standard bazaar fare such as hot dogs, hamburgers and nachos. Entertainment for both children and adults will feature a climbing wall, booth games and amusement rides. The Malley Swing Band, the John Williams Orchestra, and Los Amigos will provide music in the evenings. Bazaar hours are from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 303-455-1664.

Our Lady of Guadalupe
The annual summer festival at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is scheduled for July 10-12. The bazaar will have many rides, games, amusements and a drawing. Parish volunteers will serve a variety of Mexican and Italian foods, everything from gorditas to Italian sausage sandwiches, and visitors will be entertained with live music. The festival will run 6 p.m. to 11p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. to 11p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. More information is available by calling 303-477-1402. Our Lady of Guadalupe is located at 1209 W. 36th Ave. in Denver.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church’s annual bazaar will be held July 17-19 at 3549 Navajo St. in Denver. The event will be open from 5 p.m. to 11p.m. all three days, turning the closed-off street into an amusement park complete with rides and games for children of all ages. An array of fine Italian food, including the event’s famous sausage sandwiches will be featured on the menu. A DJ will provide nightly entertainment. More details can be found by calling 303-455-0447.

Shrine of St. Anne
For 25 years, the Shrine of St. Anne at 7555 Grant Place in Arvada has put on its parish bazaar. This year’s event will be held July 24-26. Games for the whole family will include a fishing pond, darts and a dunking booth. Parish volunteers will be baking up sweet delights, everything from cakes and pies to cupcakes and cookies. Sausage sandwiches, Italian cuisine, hotdogs and hamburgers will also be on hand. Cash prizes for this year’s drawing are $5,000, $1,000 and $500. Part of the event also includes a garage sale in the school cafeteria where household items, toys and electronics can be found at bargain prices. St. Anne’s bazaar will run 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 303-420-1280.

Our Lady of Grace
Delicious Mexican food will be one of the centerpieces of the annual Our Lady of Grace Church bazaar, 2645 E. 48th Ave. in Denver, July 24-26. Complementing the ethnic cuisine will be other summertime favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream. Games and prizes for children will be on hand, including a duck pond, pony rides and several a lotería (lotteries) for the adults at $500 each. Numerous DJs will lend their talent each evening. For more information, call 303-297-3440.