9:00 a.m. Mass Kicks Off 128th St. Louis Day
NEWS RELEASE N---For Immediate Release---ST. LOUIS DAY CELEBRATION
July 26, 2010
9:00 a.m. Mass Kicks Off 128th St. Louis Day
Further Contact-- Frankie Kempf, St. Louis Church,
610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009
Phones: 830-931-2826 or 210-287-2642
CASTROVILLE, TX--The usually peaceful town of Castroville is bracing itself for its biggest event of the year--St. Louis Day! The famed celebration, designated by the Texas Tourist Agency as "The Homecoming for the State of Texas" is slated for Sun. Aug. 22. The 128 year-old picnic will kick off in dignified style this year with a 9:00 a.m. Mass in historic 140 year old St. Louis Catholic Church. Retired Bishop, John Yanta will celebrate the Mass and inspiring music and song will be provided by the famous Liederkranz Men's Choir of San Antonio. Rev. Jim Conway is pastor of St. Louis parish. After the church service, Bishop Yanta and the Mens' Choir will make their way down to shady Koenig Park where all will enjoy a part of Castroville-style food, fun and fellowship.
First stop will likely be under the spacious dining pavilion for St. Louis Day's main attraction--a heaping plate of Alsatian-style sausage and BBQ beef with all the trimmings, followed by a moist slice of homemade cake and a cup of coffee. The two efficient serving areas eliminate any long waiting lines for hungry picnickers. Advance meal tickets are available at the regular ticket price of only $7.00. Send check or money order to St. LouisDay Celebration, 610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009.
Besides the scrumptious meal, there will be activities, games, booths and entertainment of all kinds on the Koenig Park grounds all day long. The entertainment during the day will include live performances on an outdoor stage by popular bands and singing and dance groups. The Flemish Folk Dancers from the Belgium-American Club, the Fire-on-the Mountain Cloggers of San Antonio, and the ever-popular San Antonio Community Band, making their twenty-eighth straight picnic appearance will run through mid-day. Locally favorite band, The Nathan Mathis Band, along with the regionally popular Vinyl 45s will round out the stage performances. For more information about the days activities, visit www.saintlouisday.com.
There's an afternoon silent auction in spacious AIR CONDITIONED Koenig Park Hall featuring antiques, as well as specialty items, arts and crafts, horseshoe pitching and “horse races”, bingo, all types and game booths for young and old. The big picnic drawings will ring down the curtain on the fun-filled day. One drawing will several beautifully hand-stitched quilts, valued at $1200 to $1500 each, given to some lucky winners. The main "Pot of Gold" drawing features a $3,500 pre-paid VISA check card and a giant slate of thirty-plus fabulous gift certificates and merchandise prizes.
Free parking is available at or near the park on picnic day, or visitors may use the free shuttle buses that will travel between the Park and the town square at the Church all day long. It should be pointed out that, just as in the past years, there is NO admission charge to get on the park grounds on picnic day.
So, make your plans now, to join Bishop John Yanta and the Liederkranz Choir in Castroville on August 22 at the historic St. Louis Day Celebration. You won't want to miss this ultimate in merrymaking, feasting and fellowship. See you at Koenig Park!