By Cecelia Ellis For The Republic
More than 350 volunteers are putting the final touches on the late summer Jennings County tradition of the St. Mary’s Community Festival.
It’s planned for Friday, Saturday and Sept. 9 at the St. Marys Church grounds, 212 Washington St. in North Vernon. The festival is free and open to the public.
“Everyone has been working really hard to make this event a fun, safe place for the whole community to come together and just relax and enjoy,” said festival chair Abbey Bales.
Volunteers from all three of the county’s Catholic churches — St. Anne’s, St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s — have pitched in, she noted.
“We want the whole community to feel welcome at the festival. The festival seems to grow every year because more and more people from outside the church community come, and we really welcome that,” Bales said.
The carnival rides are among the annual highlights. The rides will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 3:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9. Ride-admittance bracelets can be purchased for $17 per person each day.
The festival also is known for fish and chicken dinners, and homemade sweets. A fish-fry buffet will be offered on Friday for $10 for adults and $5 for kids. A fried chicken dinner buffet will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children.
Also, a food truck will sell hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, nachos, pizza and more each day of the festival. A sweet shop selling homemade deserts and crafts also will be open on all three days.
A beer garden will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday for those 21 years and over.
Live music is on tap, too, Friday and Saturday. The Blue River Band will play from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, Black Water Gypsy will play from 3 to 6 p.m. and Soul Street will play from 7 to 11 p.m.
Other activities will include free lawn games, a silent auction, face painting, special kids games, a kick-ball tournament and raffles. On Saturday, a casino and Plinko game will be offered for those over the age of 18.
Organizers encourage people to bring lawn chairs and blankets to make themselves comfortable on the St. Mary’s grounds.
