The Annual Grafton Summer Festival is scheduled for July 13 in the Grafton Town Park on Rt. 2 in the center of town. The festival includes a Flea Market featuring the wares of local artisans. Booths will be set up by the Grafton Historical Society, the Grafton Town Library, the Binding Friends Quilting Group and the Friends of Grafton Lake State Park. Restrooms will be provided by the Grafton Snowmobile Club. Other community organizations are invited to participate with booths and displays. Baked goods will be sold by Our Lady of the Snow Altar Rosary Society. Anyone who would like to reserve space may call John at 271-8555, or contact the Parish Office at 279-4943.
The Church will also feature Sister Kenan’s Giant Raffle which was initiated by Sister Kenan McGowan over 30 years ago as a fund raising event for the parish. Sister Kenan was Parish Life Director in Grafton and Berlin. She was active in building the community throughout her years of service to the people in this area. It was her dream to build the church in Grafton, moving worship from a milk shed to the beautiful worship space that stands today. The parishioners of the parish, now Our Lady of the Snow (formerly Sacred Heart in Berlin and St. John Francis Regis in Grafton) have decided that the best way to honor and remember Sister Kenan is to revive our participation in the summer festival in her name.
Prizes for the Giant Raffle, which has close to 90 total prizes, include handcrafted items, gift certificates to many local restaurants and outlets – Price Chopper, Cumberland Farms, Home Depot and Stewart’s to name a few, theme baskets and three large Grand Prizes.
The Grafton Library is sponsoring Jim Snack, the magician, who will stroll among the vendors in the morning and perform at the Everett Wagar Senior Center on the Park at 11 am.
Musical entertainment will start at noon and continue until the end of the festival. Nick Viscio and Tom Benson will begin the afternoon with bluegrass music and songs. Tri-County Banjo Band will play from 1 to 2 pm with toe-tapping, sing along music from the early 1900s. Nick Viscio and Tom Benson will entertain again until the end of the day.
A chicken barbecue will be prepared by Our Lady of the Snow in the lower Parking Lot of the Church. Tickets cost $10 for ½ chicken, baked potato, coleslaw and watermelon. Serving will be packaged to go and begin at noon and continue until 3 pm. Limited seating will be available. Tickets are available from parishioners in Grafton (St. John Francis Regis) and Berlin (Sacred Heart).
Set up for the flea market will begin at 7 am. Coffee and pastries will be available at that time.
For information to sign up as a vendor call 518-271-8555, and, for general information, contact 518-279-4943.