CALEDONIA — St. Rita Parish Festival is a weekend filled with live music, activities, carnival rides and good food. A fantastic place for Caledonia and the surrounding communities to come together and have a good time, this year the festival offers more carnival rides.
A lively atmosphere perfect for the whole family, the St. Rita’s festival has been taking place since the parish began in the 1940s. A few members of the festival committee have been volunteering every year for over 60 years. Festival coordinator Daniel Schrank has been with the St. Rita’s Festival for 15 years.
St. Rita’s Festival: Event details
- When: Friday, June 14, to Sunday, June 16
- Friday: 3 to 11 p.m.
- Saturday: noon to 11 p.m.
- Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
- Where: 4339 Douglas Ave., Racine
- Cost: Entry to the festival is free. Carnival rides are unlimited on Saturday and Sunday with the purchase of a $25 wristband. Food and beverages will be for sale.
Activities and attractions
Live music
Friday, June 14, Bella Cain will perform from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, Driving Miss Crazy will perform from 12:30 to 3 p.m., Weird Science will perform from 4 to 6 p.m. and Almighty Vinyl will perform from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, Mean Jake will perform from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Mt. Olive will perform from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Food and beverage
Food tents will feature Italian food including beef, sausage and meatballs, roasted food such as sweet corn and loaded potatoes and American classics like cheeseburgers, hot dogs and brats. Pizza by the slice or the entire pie, chips and snacks will be for sale as well.
Adult beverages, sodas and water will be available for purchase.
Carnival rides
This year’s expanded carnival section of the festival will be available for unlimited rides with the purchase of a $25 wristband on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
The carnival rides will be open from 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday.
Children’s entertainment
On Saturday and Sunday, free kids games and entertainment will include Mermaid Aramae, Magic Rob and musical performances. Jaquelin’s Glitter Balloons will be available for two tickets.
Kids game times are open every day, Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Community involvement
St. Rita’s Festival is run largely through volunteers, with hundreds of participants each year. Most, but not all, are members of the St. Rita’s Parish.
10% of all proceeds made at the festival are donated to local charities.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Knights of Columbus organizations will both have booths on the grounds to let people know about what they do.
Challenges and highlights
This is the first year the festival takes place in June. Previously the festival took place in August, which has become a busy, transitional time for many families. The committee decided on the June dates in the hopes of getting more school families involved.
Another big reason for the date change is that a majority of the volunteers working the festival are older in age and the weather in August can be extreme.
This year, a few new requirements have been made to the festival’s insurance. Anyone working at the festival near children is now required to go through the archdiocese safeguard program, which involves a background check.
Future plans
While St. Rita’s Festival is the biggest, the Parish organizes a few other annual events every year. For more information about future events planned by St. Rita’s Parish, visit the News & Events page of its website.
Don’t miss out on all the fun at this long standing Caledonia event this year. Mark your calendars for the St. Rita’s Fest this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit the festival page of the St. Rita’s Parish website.
“It’s a place where people can come and enjoy themselves,” Parish Trustee Sharon Gierahn said. “And if they are willing, they can learn a little bit about the faith as well.”
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