DERBY >> Nothing says summer quite like fresh-squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, Italian ice and live music.
All that and more can be found this weekend at St. Mary’s
Church’s 36th annual summer festival.
The event is free and open to the
public and runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (July 11, 12) on
the church grounds, 212 Elizabeth St.
Parking is free and handicapped parking will be available behind the church rectory.
The popular festival, which draws thousands of folks each summer,
will feature more than a dozen local food vendors and organizations
peddling arts and crafts, too.
Some of the tasty offerings will include the A.M. Club selling
meatball grinders, porchetta and broccoli rabe and macaroni with
Marchegian Sauce; the Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley
peddling steak and cheese Sandwiches and cheese fries; Antonio’s
Restaurant serving fish taco baskets and French fries; the Dew Drop Inn
with various flavored chicken wings; 500 on Main serving fried calzones;
Pure Health Lounge featuring wraps, exotic lemonade, iced tea, fresh
squeezed juices and fruit cups; St. Mary’s Church selling fried dough,
empanadas, fresh baked goods, water, coffee, tea, beer and wine;
Hotchkiss Hose Fire Co. with barbecued chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers,
cheeseburgers, corn on the cob, French fries and soda and Rita’s serving
Italian ices.
Some of the crafts and vendor booths will feature jewelry,
fresh-picked vegetables, toys, pocketbooks by Thirty-One and Pampered
Chef products.
For your listening pleasure, the band Phoenix, will entertain
with live music on Friday night, and Saturday’s night’s musical guest
will be Megawatt Entertainment.
The two-day festival will also feature a 50/50 raffle, a giant raffle with 10 cash prizes, as well as fun and games for kids.
John Coscia, the festival’s advertising chairman, encouraged people to stop by for great food and fun.
“People should put this event on their to-do list because it
gives them the opportunity to bring the community together and to meet
up with old friends and meet new ones while enjoying the taste of what
the Valley has to offer, while supporting St. Mary’s Parish,” Coscia
said.
Festival proceeds are used to maintain and repair the church and grounds.
Coscia added that the committee was able to purchase a tent for
the festival this year, thanks to a grant from the Valley Community
Foundation.
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