St. Rose Festival kicks off church festival season

LIMA - Not too big and not too small, the annual St. Rose Festival appears to belong in the "Goldilocks" fairytale: the two-day event is "just right" for the community.

"It's the right fit for us," said Mary Paton, who co-plans the festival with Kris Casey. "We've toyed with the idea of making it three days, and that kind of thing, but we like it the way it is."

According to Paton, the festival involves a proven blend of food, games, rides and musical entertainment, which begins on a Saturday evening and carries through the weekend. As in years past, Saturday kicks off with an Italian dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. After dinner, the evening becomes adults only, Paton said, with adult beverages and a performance by the band Spaz & Friends.

In contrast, the festival devotes Sunday to families. Paton said the day's activities will feature rides, games and entertainment for all ages. For $15, guests can get a ride bracelet for all-day access to the festival's 10 mechanical rides, two inflatable attractions, an obstacle course and a bungee run.

On Sunday, adults and kids can also partake of the festival's excellent food offerings, Paton said. These include French fries, a chicken and Swiss steak dinner catered by Old Barn Out Back and the festival's legendary chicken wings.

On either day, Paton said adults can participate in games of chance, tip books and more. The 50/50 raffle is up to $1,400 this year, she said, and the raffle will give away $5,000.

With food and fun for two days straight, Paton said the festival is the perfect remedy to the winter and something the community rallies around.

"It's more of a getting everything going and coming together after the long winter doldrums," she said. "It's the ‘first festival' type of atmosphere, where everyone is ready to get outside."

St. Rose Festival

WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: St. Rose Catholic Church, 523 N. West St., Lima

COST: Free admission; $15 ride bracelet; $6.50 for chicken or Swiss steak dinners on Sunday

FOR MORE INFO: Call 419-223-6361

Saturday

5 to 7 p.m.: Italian dinner with music by D.J. Drew Fox

7 p.m. to midnight: "Adult Night" with music by Spaz & Friends

Sunday

Noon to 8 p.m.: "Family Day"

Noon to 2 p.m.: Lima Central Catholic's Italian dancers and jazz band

Noon: Chicken and Swiss steak dinner

2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Spaz & Friends unplugged

5 to 8 p.m.: Sandy Hook