Immaculate Conception Catholic Church will hold its annual parish picnic about three months later this year than usual.
The church, 2300 Church Road, in Arnold, will hold the picnic from 5-11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. The picnic is open to the public and will feature carnival rides, live music, fireworks, food and more.
Admission is free, but there will be a cost to play some games.
The Saturday festivities will kick off with a parade scheduled to start at 9:15 a.m. near Walmart, 2201 Michigan Ave., and end near the picnic grounds.
The church, which traditionally holds its picnic in May, did not have one in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed back this year’s event because of the pandemic.
“We delayed it this year because we thought people wouldn’t want to come out then,” parish picnic committee member Sharon Ott said. “Hopefully, next year it will be back to the third week of May because that is when the kids get out of school.”
Ott said the two-day event draws hundreds to the parish grounds, and the picnic typically brings in between $8,000 and $10,000 that goes into Immaculate Conception’s general operating funds.
“It is important because last year we couldn’t have any fundraisers,” she said.
Ott said the picnic is held outdoors, so the parish does not anticipate asking anyone to wear a mask, during the event.
Ott said hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, nachos, cotton candy and other traditional carnival foods will be sold.
Saturday also will feature a petting zoo, balloon artist, pony rides and a fireworks display set to start at about 9:45 p.m. and last 15 to 20 minutes.
“Because we normally have the picnic in May, we end up with rain a lot of the times,” Ott said. “Hopefully, we won’t have to deal with the rain this time. People really like the fireworks.”
Ott said attendees also enjoy the musical acts.
The Saturday Brothers Band, which plays a collection of funk, rock and roll, and jazz music, is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, an Elvis impersonator is scheduled to perform from 6-7 p.m., and the band Exit 180, which plays a variety of cover songs, will play from 7-11 p.m.
“The daytime is geared to the kids, and the evening is more geared towards adults,” Ott said.