Fall Fest making return at Holy Apostles Church

Posted 9/10/14

The Fall Festival is returning to Holy Apostles Church.

“It’s been three years since we’ve had a festival, so we’re very excited,” said Manny Silva, chair of the festival …

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Fall Fest making return at Holy Apostles Church

Posted

The Fall Festival is returning to Holy Apostles Church.

“It’s been three years since we’ve had a festival, so we’re very excited,” said Manny Silva, chair of the festival committee.

The festival will run Sept. 11-14 at the church, located at 800 Pippin Orchard Road in Cranston. Silva said it will feature “great food, entertainment and games,” and all members of the community, including residents of neighboring towns, are welcome.

The church initially began holding annual festivals roughly 10 years ago. The events then became biannual, and in 2011, when Holy Apostles celebrated its 20th anniversary, the festival was held in June rather than during the fall.

Now, after a three-year absence, the annual celebration is returning to its autumn roots. Silva said while Cranston has celebrations such as St. Mary’s Feast in other parts of the city, gatherings like the Holy Apostles festival are rare in western Cranston.

“It’s a really nice event, because there’s not a lot of events that happen like that out in western Cranston,” he said.

Amron Family Fun Faire will provide the rides for the festival, with a preview night from 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday.

A range of food options will also be available.

“There is a strong Italian influence on the food,” Silva said, noting that the menu will include meatballs, eggplant parmesan, hamburgers, hot dogs and doughboys.

The festival will also feature a winemaking competition on Sunday afternoon. Silva said at the last festival, the contest drew 10 local winemakers and nearly 20 wines overall. This year’s competition will also feature local entrants.

In another attraction, Silva said the church’s chorus has put together a “hummingbird raffle,” with more than 300 donated prizes to be given away.

The festival’s entertainment will include a performance by Tribeca with special guest Christiana Rodi on Friday night, music from the group Triad on Saturday evening and the sounds of a five-piece jazz band on Sunday afternoon.

The former pastor of Holy Apostles, Msgr. Richard Sheehan, retired at the end of June, and this weekend’s event will be the first for his successor, Msgr. Paul D. Theroux.

“This is his first experience with a festival at a parish that he’s the pastor of,” Silva said. “He’s been very supportive of what we’re doing.”

Following the preview night, the festival will run from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Silva said proceeds from the event go to the church, but the festival is not designed as a fundraiser.

“The primary goal of the committee is to provide an opportunity for the community to come together. It’s a social gathering, first and foremost,” he said. “It really is a great opportunity for the neighborhood.”

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