by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
On a perfect breezy summer day, thousands of people attended the annual Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice on July 17 to enjoy live music, games and food.
The day began with a 10 a.m. outdoor Mass on the church grounds.
That was followed by a hog roast with all the trimmings, plus homemade pies for dessert, in the air-conditioned dining hall.
Outdoors, on the well-shaded grounds, there were fun activities for all ages, including a tractor-pull competition, cash bingo, pull tabs, kiddie bingo and barrel-train rides, a cake walk, several raffles, a silent auction, ring toss and a nail lumberjack contest.
Another perennially popular attraction was “Grandma’s Attic,” a sale of used items that took place in the church annex basement.
The River Breeze Band, its members from Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud, played old favorites earlier in the afternoon. The grand raffle, with prizes totaling $6,500, attracted a large crowd at 5 p.m., which was the end of the festival.
Eileen and Joachim Jansky of Sauk Rapids kick up their heels to a rousing version of Hank William’s Jambalaya July 17 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice. The song and other classic favorites were performed by the River Breeze Band, whose members hail from Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud.
Lori and Joe Skroch of Foley, sister and brother, put together a jigsaw puzzle they had just purchased at the “Grandma’s Attic” used sale at the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest July 17 in Rice. The Skroches’ grandparents are members of Immaculate Conception Parish.
Paul Goebel of St.Cloud fries burgers July 17 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice. Goebel, a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish, fried more than 400 burgers in just the first two hours of the festival. He acts as “burger chef” at the event just about every year.
Mary Lepinski of Rice (left) and Jenny Emslander prepare cheeseburgers for hungry customers at the food tent July 17 during the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice.
Aaron Gindely of Rice calls bingo numbers for the Kiddie Bingo activity July 17 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice. The children with winning bingo cards won a variety of children’s toys.
Four men compete in a game of “Nail Lumberjack” July 17 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest in Rice. Each player antes up a buck, and the one who hammers his first, taking successive turns, wins the dollars-pot. From left to right are John Thompson (barely visible at left), his brother Mike Thompson (in white shirt), both of Rice; Tony Tabbatt of Rice (second from right) and his father, Roger Tabbat of Grey Eagle.
Festival-goers sit and relax with food and drinks and wander the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Parish Summerfest July 17 in Rice.
