Picnic Time is Upon Us

The Catholic Church Summer picnic season is underway, leading to many sugar filled nights, dizzy-ride induced screams, and gambling excitement.  I mean, where else can you go to drink a few cold beers, let your kids run around and get messy, and let the whole family eat delicious junk food without feeling guilty?  Because all the proceeds go to a good cause, you can eat, drink, and be merry, without anything weighing you down or holding you back. The St. Anges Carnival  has been entertaining folks and serving the community for 15 years and  is the largest of the Catholic Picnics in the Louisville area. The festivities begin this week and provide something for everyone.  

 Wednesday, July 18th marks the beginning of the carnival’s week long celebration.  Decorated cars and floats will drive up and down Bardstown Road in the Highlands to remind everyone of the impending carnival.  Cars will start driving at 6pm and will begin and end at the St. Agnes School.

The festivities continue, Thursday July 19th for “Ride Night.”  Rides will be open to the public along with limited food options.  Booths with remain closed until the official start of the Carnival.  Ride Night gives you the opportunity to ride as many times as you like for one ticket price. 

 The 15th annual St. Agnes Carnival kicks off Friday July 20th and features prize booths, cake raffles, a quilt wheel, gambling, and midway rides.  The Carnival even has some grand prize events including a $20,000 raffle, and a $100,000 hole in one contest. The food, beer booths and live entertainment are among the most popular draws of the Carnival.  

Louisvillians who are familiar with the Catholic Picnics, know that the other big Summer Picnic to look forward to is St. Joseph’s Orphan’s Picnic. The St. Joseph picnic began in 1850 with the sole purpose of raising money for the orphanage.  The picnic now attracts more than 60,000 people every year.  This year, the Picnic will be held on Saturday August 11th. The St. Joseph Picnic will be open to the public between noon and midnight and feature 63 booths, raffles, games of chance, food, and beverages. There are several high-end raffles too, with chances to win cars, trips, and fine-dining meals, all for just $1.   

Friday August 10, will be the annual Friday Night Live, which will feature live entertainment, and several of the picnic booths, including the fish and bratwurst booth. Friday Night Live will be held from 5pm to 10pm. In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled. 

It has been a long time since I have attended the picnics.  I am looking forward to going back this year, now that I have children, and experiencing the St. Agnes Carnival from a new perspective.  I am most looking forward to winning a cake for a dime.  I am sure my 2-year-old will enjoy getting to eat whatever his little hear desires and running around in the open air.  My husband has been practicing his swing in the front yard the past couple nights (as if it will make a difference) in hopes of winning the hole-in one contest. So I will let you know how that goes.  The thing I am looking forward to the most though, is making those memories.   I’m sure my two year old will start making them soon; those Summertime memories, picnic memories, good time, family memories. 

Ilyes's Louisville