Large crowds turned out for the annual Immaculate Conception Parish Picnic, held Aug. 27-28 on the church grounds in Arnold.
Sharon Ott, a parish picnic committee member, said a heat advisory likely kept some people away from the picnic, but about 1,000 people attended, with most showing up in the evenings.
“I think Saturday night was more crowded than the last few,” Ott said. “There were always some kids on the rides and at the game booths, which are operated by members of each of the school’s grade levels. The games and rides were really crowded on Friday and Saturday night.”
Ott said the parish will not know how much money the picnic brought in for about a week, but typically it generates between $8,000 and $10,000 in revenue, which goes into Immaculate Conception Catholic Church’s general operating fund.
The two-day event featured carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, pony rides and a balloon artist. A fireworks display was held on Aug. 28.
There also were musical performances by The Saturday Brothers Band on Aug. 27, and an Elvis impersonator and the band Exit 180 performed on Aug. 28.
The parish picnic, which typically is held in May, was not held in 2020 and was postponed this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The return of the picnic was warmly received, Ott said.
“It was great,” she said. “There have been so many picnics canceled this year that people were just glad they could come and let their kids enjoy the rides.”
Ott said she does not know if next year’s picnic will return to its traditional May dates or if the parish will start holding picnics in August.
“One problem can be getting the rides booked, and May is a busy time,” Ott said. “But I don’t know what the decision will be.”