Saturday, August 14

Cold Spring • St. Boniface Parish Fall Festival starts with polka Mass at 5 p.m. Food and beverage stands and inflatables open at 6 p.m. Smok ‘n Guns will play until 11 p.m. Fireworks display begins at 10 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Long Prairie • St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish Great Get-Together Summer Festival begins with “Jesus’ Fishers of Men” fishing contest from 8 to noon. (Pre-registration required — forms at Long Prairie Fleet Supply or rectory.) Event includes Hispanic lunch in church basement (noon to 1 p.m.); kiddie games and games of chance for adults, raffle and beer garden (all starting at 1 p.m.); dessert judging contest (forms at rectory) and dessert auction; Mass (5:30 p.m.) and pig roast served in church basement (until 8 p.m.).

Sartell • St. Francis Xavier Parish Fall Festival starts with outdoor Mass at 5 p.m. Pig roast, food and refreshment stands, bake sale, plant stand, inflatable games, pull tabs and more begin immediately after Mass. Live music begins at 6:30 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Sunday, August 15

Cold Spring • St. Boniface Parish Fall Festival continues from yesterday with Mass at 8:30 a.m. Parade at 10 a.m. Chicken and dressing dinner with homemade desserts served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Stands — food and refreshments, games for kids and inflatables — open at 11 a.m. Event includes ROCORI Marching Band (11:30), Ray Drontle Band (noon to 2 p.m.), quilt auction (2 p.m.), music by Kodiak (3 to 6 p.m.), and drawing and car raffle (6 p.m.).

Perham • St. Henry Parish Summer Festival begins with 10:30 a.m. polka Mass at Pioneer Village Park. Potluck lunch, with main dish provided by parish, served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Freewill offering.) Event includes games for all ages, basket silent auction, country store, pie and ice cream and raffle. (Park is one-half mile north of Perham on Hwy. 8.)

Reno Township/Lowry • St. John Nepomuk Parish Annual Dinner and Bazaar begins with polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Dinner served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Parish is located 5 miles NE of Lowry and 1/4 mile W of Lake Reno.)

Sartell • St. Francis Xavier Parish Fall Festival continues with Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., each followed by bake sale.  Roast beef dinner with homemade pie served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Stands — food and refreshments, games for kids, bingo, pull tabs, fancywork, silent auction, farmers’ market, plants, used books and media — open at 11 a.m. Event includes polka music (11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), beer stand (opens at noon), live auction (1 p.m.), music (3 to 6 p.m.) and raffle drawing (with over $12,500 in prizes — top prize $2,500) at 6 p.m.

Friday, August 20

Big Lake • Our Lady of the Lake Parish Founders’ Day Festival features concessions (including beer and wine), music jam and dancing “under the stars,” bingo and chili contest and sale from 5 to 10 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Saturday, August 21

Big Lake • Our Lady of the Lake Parish Founders Day Festival continues from yesterday starting with a turkey and roast beef dinner served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event — which lasts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — includes music and entertainment, concessions, bingo, hayrides, country market game, kiddie games, silent and live auctions and grand raffle drawing at 3 p.m. Mass celebrated at 7 p.m.

Elrosa • Elrosa Harvest Fest begins with outdoor polka Mass on Main Street at 4 p.m. Food stand, beer garden and live music from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Event includes kiddie parade and games, raffle drawing for kids, beanbag toss tournament, dunk booth and grand raffle drawing at 9 p.m.

Melrose • St. Mary Parish polka Mass begins at 4:30 p.m. at Melrose City Center parking lot. Parish raffle drawing — with 10 cash prizes (grand prize of $20,000 and second prize of $5,000) held downtown at approximately 9 p.m. Tickets are $100 each. Only 1,000 chances will be sold. (Must be 18 or older to win. Need not be present to win.) Send name, address, phone number and number of tickets to purchase (including $100 for each) to: St. Mary’s Parish Raffle, 211 South 5th Ave. E, Melrose, MN 56352. (Deadline for tickets by mail is Aug. 13.)

Sauk Rapids • Sacred Heart Parish Fall Festival starts with Mass at 5 p.m. Family parking lot dance featuring Jake Sommers from FamilyfriendlyDJ, and food and refreshment stands on church grounds from 6 to 9 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Sunday, August 22

St. Francis • St. Francis of Assisi Parish Fall Festival begins with Mass at 10 a.m. in air-conditioned church. Chicken and ham dinner served indoors and outdoors starting at 11 a.m. Live music from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Event includes food and beverage stands, bingo, country store, fancywork, cake walk, games for kids. Auction at 2:30 p.m. Grand raffle ($1,000 top prize, over 90 prizes) at 7:30 p.m. (St. Francis is located 10 miles north of Albany on Hwy. 238.)

Sauk Rapids • Sacred Heart Parish Fall Festival continues from yesterday with Mass at 8 a.m. and polka Mass at 10 a.m. Chicken dinner, catered by Short Stop, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stands — food and refreshments, grandma’s attic, bingo, fancywork, country store, games for children, ring toss, paddle cake, basket bidding — open at 11 a.m. Live music from 2 to 6 p.m. Grand raffle starts at 6 p.m.

Verndale • St. Frederick Parish begins its Centennial Celebration with Mass celebrated by Bishop John Kinney at 10:30 a.m. Ham and chicken dinner served in church and in tents after Mass. Freewill offering. (To make reservations for dinner call 218-445-5204 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before July 25.) Event includes horse-drawn wagon rides, bingo and games for kids. Musicians from neighboring parishes are invited to “jam” in an old time music session. A number of church mementos will be available for purchase at celebration.

Saturday, August 28

Donnelly • St. Charles Parish of Herman sponsors hamburger stand (hamburgers, foot longs, chips, pickles, coffee and pop) for Donnelly Threshing Bee from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Sunday, August 29

Donnelly • St. Charles Parish of Herman sponsors hamburger stand (hamburgers, foot longs, chips, pickles, coffee and pop) for Donnelly Threshing Bee from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Watkins • St. Anthony Parish Picnic in the Park begins with outdoor polka Mass at 10 a.m. at McCarthy Park (north end of Main St.). Stands — food and refreshments, bake walk, card game, 50/50 hourly drawings, pull tabs, bingo, teen and kiddie games open at 11 a.m. Event includes volleyball and beanbag tournaments, hay bale roll and silent auction. Cash raffle at 5:30 p.m. (Top prizes are $2,000, $1,000 and four prizes of $500. Need not be present to win.)

Sunday, September 5

Harding • Holy Cross Parish Bazaar begins with polka Mass at 10 a.m. in handicap accessible church. Chicken and ham dinner with homemade Polish coffee cake and pies served after Mass until 2 p.m. Hamburgers sold all day. Live music throughout event. Raffle drawing at 7 p.m. (Handicap parking spaces.)

St. Rosa • St. Rose of Lima Parish Fall Festival begins with outdoor polka Mass with music at 10 a.m. followed by chicken and ham dinner, catered by All Stars Sports Bar and Grill, with homemade pies, served at 11 a.m. Event includes bingo, games for adults and children, country store, cake walk, food and refreshments, beanbag tournament (1 p.m.), quilt auction (2 p.m.), music by Kodiak (4:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and grand raffle drawing (over $10,000 in cash and prizes) at 8:30 p.m.

St. Stephen • St. Stephen Parish Festival begins with food court (including beer stand) and music starting at 5 p.m. Street dance from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Urbank • Sacred Heart Parish Festival begins with a polka Mass at 10 a.m. followed by a chicken and ham dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in air-conditioned, handicap accessible parish center. Event includes live music, beer stand, bingo, silent auction, country store, cake walk, games for all ages and raffle.

 

Monday, September 6

St. Stephen • St. Stephen Parish Festival continues from yesterday with stands opening at 11 a.m. and chicken and ham dinner, including homemade pies, served. Event includes bingo, kiddie games and inflatables, quilts, fancywork, plants and cake walk. Country auction at 1 p.m. Grand raffle at 5:30 p.m. (Mass celebrated at 7:30 a.m.)

Saturday, September 11

St. Cloud • St. Mary’s Cathedral Block Party begins with an outdoor polka Mass at 4 p.m. in the parish parking lot. Event includes food court, carnival games, bingo, silent auction, youth games and inflatables, used items/book sale, quilt raffle and grand raffle. (Free admission.)

Sunday, September 12

Butler • Holy Cross Parish Fall Bazaar begins with Mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by beef and ham dinner starting at 11:30 a.m. Event includes bingo, kiddie games and raffle at 3 p.m. (From New York Mills take N Hwy. 67 to Butler.)

Clarissa • St. Joseph Parish Festival begins with Mass at 10 a.m. followed by chicken and ham dinner with homemade pies served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in air-conditioned, handicap accessible dining hall in church basement. (Take-out available. Call 218-756-2302.) Event includes bingo, silent auction, country store, kiddie games, refreshments and live music. Cash raffle (grand prize of $5,000) begins at 2 p.m.

Herman • St. Charles Parish Fall Festival starts with turkey dinner with all the trimmings and homemade pies served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Herman American Legion. Event includes raffle.

Kent • St. Thomas Parish Fall Bazaar begins with Mass at 10 a.m. followed by family-style turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event includes bingo, crafts, cherry tree, country store, cake walk, theme baskets, kiddie games, quilt raffle. Grand raffle at 2 p.m.

Waite Park • St. Joseph Parish Festival begins with 10:30 a.m. polka Mass at the Community Park. Event includes food and refreshment stands, basket boutique/silent auction, cake walk, bingo and games for all ages. Raffle ticket drawing at 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 18

Zimmerman • Christ Our Light Parish Fall Fest begins with street dance for those 16 and older at Christ Our Light-South, formerly St. Pius X Parish (25909 4th St. W). Gate opens at 7 p.m. Diamond Back performs from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ($10 cover.) Concessions available. Beer sales to those 21 and older with a valid ID. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Sunday, September 19

Brandon • St. Ann Parish Fall Bazaar and Raffle begins with polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by dinner. Event includes country store, bingo, cake walk, silent auction, games for all ages and grand raffle.

Brooten • St. Donatus Parish Annual Fall Dinner and Raffle begins with Mass at 10:15 a.m. at the church followed by a roast turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings, including homemade pies and desserts, served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the BBE Elementary School. Raffle drawing takes place after dinner. (Catholic Aid matching grant event.)

Buckman • St. Michael Parish Bazaar starts with polka Mass at 10 a.m. followed by chicken and ham dinner with all the trimmings served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in handicap accessible parish center. Live music by the Walzeteers. Event includes food and beverage stands, country store, silent auction, games for adults and children, quilt wheel and raffle and fancywork. Grand raffle (over $7,500 cash) at 4:30 p.m.

Elk River • St. Andrew Parish Fall Festival starts with Mass at 10:30 a.m. Stands — Sidewalk Café (family-friendly prices), silent auction, country store, bingo and kiddie games — open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Live music in beer garden from noon to 4:30 p.m. Special drawing for $1,000 gift card. Grand raffle (top prize of $2,000 cash) at 4:45 p.m.

Fergus Falls • Our Lady of Victory Parish Fall Festival begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m. in handicap accessible church followed by a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and homemade pie served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Alternate hot dog dinner available for kids.) Event includes bake and craft sales, games and raffle for kids, adult games, theme baskets, bingo, cake walk and grand raffle. (Our Lady of Victory School is also holding their Steak and Wine fundraiser.)

Kimball • St. Anne Parish Fall Festival starts with Mass at 10 a.m. Hamburger and beer stand opens at 11 a.m. Event includes bingo, adult and kiddie games, jumping pillows, horse-drawn wagon rides, cherry tree, cake walk and silent auction. Raffle (top prize 2010 Cub Cadet LTX 1042 lawnmower) at 3 p.m.

Morris • Assumption Parish Septemberfest starts with Mass at 10 a.m. followed by dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Event includes beer garden, televised sporting event on big screens, antique car show, basket auction, bake sale, country store and raffle drawing (top prize $1,000). Food booths and games provided by St. Mary School.

Princeton • Christ Our Light Parish Fall Fest continues from yesterday at Christ Our Light-North, formerly St. Edward Parish (804 7th Ave. S), starting with an outdoor Mass at 10 a.m. Event lasts until 5 p.m. and features activities for all ages, pork chop dinner, beer garden and cash raffle ($1,000 grand prize).

Sunday, September 26

Clear Lake • St. Marcus Parish Harvest Festival begins with Mass at 9 and 11 a.m. Breakfast served from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Event includes silent auction, meat raffles, kiddie games, crafts and cake walk. Grand raffle drawing ($1,000 top prize) starts at 12:30 p.m.

Kensington • Our Lady of the Runestone Parish Annual Dinner and Silent Auction begins with Mass at 8:30 a.m. Dinner served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mora • St. Mary Parish Fall Festival begins with Mass at 10 a.m. followed by an old-fashioned chicken dinner with all the trimmings and pie and ice cream served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Event includes music, booths, silent auction, old time general store, kiddie games, bake walk and handmade gift items from Third World countries and coffee beans from Chiapas, Mexico. Cash raffle drawing (total prizes of $1,500) at 3 p.m.

Motley • St. Michael Church hosts annual Harvest Dinner and Bake Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. (Mass celebrated at 10:30 a.m.) Dinner features roast beef and spit-roasted turkey with fresh squash and other vegetables from parishioners’ gardens and homemade pies.

Sobieski • St. Stanislaus Parish Annual Bazaar begins with polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. at the church followed by a Polish meal of sausage, chicken, aluska and corn-on-cob with all the trimmings and homemade pies served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the handicap accessible Sobieski Community Center. Event includes cake walk, kiddie games, bingo, country store, pull tabs and refreshments. Grand raffle drawing at 3 p.m.

Sunday, October 3

Verndale • St. Frederick Parish Fall Breakfast, Bake Sale and Raffle begins at 8 a.m. at the Verndale Lions Civic Center, 109 1st Ave. SE. (Mass celebrated at 8:30 a.m. at the church.) Free will offering for breakfast.

West Union • St. Alexius Church (one-half mile north of I-94 between Sauk Centre and Osakis) serves Sausage Supper featuring smoked sausage, sauerkraut and spare ribs, head cheese and all the trimmings from 1 to 6 p.m. in the handicap accessible church basement. Stands open and tickets on sale at noon. Event includes live music, refreshment stand, games for adults and children and country store. To order sausage, headcheese or sauerkraut to take home after the supper call 320-352-2563. (Mass celebrated at 8:45 a.m.)

Saturday, October 9

St. Cloud • Holy Spirit Parish Festival begins with Mass at 4 p.m. Picnic starts at 5 p.m. followed by kiddie carnival, S.C.R.I.P. bingo and cake walk. Bonfire and parking lot dance with DJ is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. (Event continues tomorrow.)

Sunday, October 10

St. Cloud • Holy Spirit Parish Festival continues with breakfast buffet featuring ham, sausage, pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and cinnamon and caramel rolls from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Mass celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Event includes quilt and grand raffles.

Saturday, October 23

Chokio • St. Mary Parish Fall Bazaar is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at parish center. Event includes bake sale, crafts, grab bags, grandma’s attic and kitchen, country store and raffle. (Lunch features homemade soup, sandwiches and pies.)

Sunday, October 24

St. Cloud • St. Anthony Parish hosts Fall Quilt Games featuring 40 hand-stitched quilts. Sandwiches and dessert served at 5 p.m. Games start at 6 p.m. ($.50 per game or $20 for all games.) Event includes quilt raffle. ($1 per ticket.)

Saturday, October 30

Bluegrass • St. Hubert Parish Harvest Festival includes craft, garden produce and bake sales; kiddie games; silent auction and raffle drawing. Event is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the religious education building.

Sunday, October 31

Breckenridge • St. Mary of the Presentation Parish Fall Festival begins with Mass at 10 a.m. at the church. Booths open on grounds of St. Mary’s School (210 N 4th St.) at 11 a.m. Turkey and pork dinner with all the trimmings served family style from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event includes raffle, bingo, games for kids, country store, crafts and baked goods.

Staples • Sacred Heart Church Annual Dinner and Bazaar begins with Mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by turkey and ham dinner and bazaar from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dinner served in church basement. Bingo, produce and bake sale held in school