Hundreds Celebrate Annual St. Pat’s Festival

By Emma Palova || Contributing writer

7/14/2024

 It was the perfect three days for a perfect festival, under the blue sky, as people flocked to St. Pat’s grounds in Parnell. The festivities started strong on Friday evening with the 5K run/walk, marking a record participation of 300 runners and walkers. The night was filled with a euchre tournament, caricature artist, balloon animal artist, kids face painting and 60s music by Decades Band.

Saturday was packed with everything from music by Signal Trip, mechanical bull rides and casino night. However, the biggest event of the day were the live and silent auctions. The prizes were unique and ranged from rosaries, an Irish whiskey basket, Amish furniture, a basketball signed by Tom Izzo, pizza party with Fr. Tom Cavera, first pew on Christmas and Easter masses, and parking spots. Other prizes included large pictures of the church, by Bruce Doll, and Kona ice cream for an entire classroom. The auctioneer was Jason Lamoreaux of Grattan Auctioneers.

There was a whole slew of rental properties auctioned off and close to $40,000 was raised for a pavilion for outdoor classes. Several businesses sponsored the auction, including Eardley Law and Mika Meyers, who paid the first $10,000 for the pavilion. The auction tent was packed, and at times, there was standing room only.

A festival wouldn’t be a festival without awesome food by Red Hot Inn, Knights of Columbus, Kona Ice and Let’s Taco Bout It, with delicious burritos and tacos.

Sunday brought in more sunshine, and the star of the antique car show was the 1973 Cadillac Eldorado, which came in cruising last, at its 18 foot length and completely unaltered.

Owner Tom Zeigler, donning an admiral hat, proudly posed in front of his “land yacht.”

“I couldn’t ride my motor cycle anymore, so I got this,” he laughed pointing at his white Eldorado.

Zeigler is a member of The Road Weasels based in Comstock Park. The car has one of the biggest engines that GM has ever made, 500 cubic inch V8. He bought the car in Mt. Pleasant for $6,500, the same price that it cost in the 70s. It has 133,000 miles on it.

Last, but not least, Stan Mroz Jr. played polka music on Sunday afternoon, and the famous chicken dinners for $15 a meal. The meal included half a chicken, with mashed potatoes, a bun, cole slaw and applesauce. It was catered by Cannonsburg Village Catering.