Ethnic Festival returns to Spring Hill
Carnival rides and midway games are going up along Spring Hill Drive as the Ethnic Festival returns for its 23rd year.
The front of St. Joan of Arc Church transforms each year in October to a lavish midway as the Ethnic Festival, in it’s 23rd year. The event grew from a modest fundraiser with a few ethnic food dishes and a yard sale to raise money for the church into a four day gala with food, live entertainment, a huge flea market and fun for the entire family. It continues now through Sunday. KIM DAME
The event pulls thousands through the gate each night for four nights. It began as a small church fundraiser for St. Joan of Arc Church. Members brought in a few ethnic dishes they prepared at a neighboring church, combined the food with a yard sale and invited the community.
It has grown in size each year, adding live local entertainment, a silent auction and hundreds if different specialty foods from four cultures; American, Polish, German and Italian. It is a four day gala of community-inspired fun for the entire family.
The Ethnic Festival officially opened Thursday night and will run through Sunday. Admission is free.
Gates open Friday from 5-10 p.m.; noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday.
Second Hand Rose, the indoor flea market, is a tradition and returns this year, with an entire room filled with items of every category.
Debbie Colvin, the event co-chair, said this year will follow the same basic format with even more to do and see. Many of the midway rides have changed to include of styles to appeal to most age groups.
Arm bands are available each day for $30 at the gate and offer unlimited rides on the midway.
“And the rides stay open late,” Colvin said, even after the event has closed for the evening.
The Ethnic Festival is an annual event, completed by volunteers.
“I’ll be exhausted when it’s all done,” added Colvin with a sigh.
Entertainment lineup:
Friday
5:30-6:15 AK Dance Away
6:30-7:30 Dragon’s Dojo
7:30-8:00 Diana’s Dance Exoress
8:15-10:00 Just Us Duo
Saturday
12:00-12:45 Homeland Gospel Quartet
1:00-2:00 Dragon’s Duo
2:00-2:45 Diana’s Dance Express
3:00-3:30 Suzuki Strings
3:30-3:50 Dance Craft
4:00-4:45 Diana’s Dance Express
5:00-5:20 Mya Pici
5:30-6:00 Hernando Harmonizers
6:00-6:30 Shazadi & Jewels of the Nile Belly Dance Troupe
6:30-7:15 Tina’s Dance Academy
7:15-7:45 Shazadi
7:45-8:30 Just Dance
8:30-9:00 Matt Romeo
Sunday
1:00-1:20 Dance Craft
1:30-2:00 AK Dance Away
2:00-2:15 Tom & Dawn Livecchi
2.30-3:15 Diana’s Dance Express
3:30-4:00 Backyard Production Corp
4:00-4:30 Moon’s Tae Kwan Do College Demo Team
4:30-6:00 Stir Up The Gifts
