From staff reports
St. Joseph’s 78th annual 4th of July celebration will be held from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, on the parish grounds in Lucinda. As a pre-festival kick-off, St. Joseph’s Liberty 5K Run/Walk will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at the Lucinda Train Station. The schedule of events on July 4 is as follows:
10 a.m. — Dinner ticket sales open
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Dinners will be served. Takeouts will be available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
11 a.m. — Grounds will open featuring diverse games of skill and chance for adults and children, a concessions stand, Chinese auction, prize drawings and children’s features. A cornerstone attraction are the handmade quilts with nearly 20 slated to be awarded throughout the day. A limited number will be available for purchase and three quilts will be featured in a silent auction. A preview of the quilts is available at www.st-joseph-lucinda.org.
11 a.m. — Sawyer Stepp and The Crossroads Band will kick off the day’s live entertainment on the main grounds featuring classic country, rock and oldies. Joni Zacherl of Clarion will head the live performances at the outdoor dining area by singing a variety of smooth pop favorites.
Noon — Called-number games will begin in the lower level of the social hall and will continue throughout the afternoon. The first of three larger-prize games will kick off the games party.
Noon — Bryan Phillips will play a variety of acoustic country and light rock tunes at the outdoor dining area.
1 p.m. — Singer and guitarist Kiara Gabler of Leeper will perform country music selections at the outdoor dining area and Scotty Greene will stroll the grounds cranking one of the old-time street organs from DeBence Antique Music World in Franklin.
1:30 p.m. — Keep Off The Grass, from West Sunbury, will begin the afternoon’s performances with traditional bluegrass music on the main grounds. The second of three larger-prize called-number games will be held in the lower level of the social hall.
3 p.m. — Keyboardist Dennis Geib will conclude the day’s performances playing smooth jazz and familiar show tunes on the main grounds.
3:30 p.m. — The last of three larger-prize called-number games will be held in the lower level of the social hall.
4 p.m. — Grand Prize drawing will be held. New this year will be a Junior Grand Prize ticket featuring prizes for children and tweens.
Proceeds from the day’s events benefiting St. Joseph Catholic School, one of the oldest Catholic schools in the Erie Diocese.
The celebration will be held rain or shine on the canopy-covered parish grounds.
The children’s playground is adjacent to the festivities and St. Joseph Church, erected in 1893, will be open to visitors. The parish complex is located at 112 Rectory Lane along Route 66 in Lucinda, Interstate 80 Exit 60, Route 66 north 10 miles.
The grounds are handicap accessible. Parking areas surround the grounds and a parking shuttle will be available.
Reserved parking spaces will be available for those who cannot attend the festival but want to purchase a carry-out dinner.
For more information, visit www.st-joseph-lucinda.org, access Facebook or call (814) 226-7288.
Registration for the Liberty 5K Run/Walk begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at the restored train station. The race will start nearby at 9 a.m. on a new course this year. The Rail 66 Country Trail is a non-motorized, four-season trail that currently stretches 4.3 miles through the scenic countryside of northern Clarion County on the historic Knox-Kane railroad bed, which has been paved with a runner-friendly surface.
The run will be held rain or shine and entertainment will be provided by Absolute Clarion DJ Services. The Lucinda Train Station is located at 1040 Lander Drive in Lucinda and can be accessed via Maple Drive, which is to the first left immediately following St. Joseph Church on Route 66 N.
Pre-registration is encouraged and forms are available at www.st-joseph-lucinda.org/fourthofjuly, Facebook @StJoesLiberty5K, www.smileymiles.com or by calling (814) 226-7288. Proceeds benefit St. Joseph School.
