A record number of vendors, music and all day entertainment, as well as the famous chicken barbecue, highlight the Grafton Town Festival on Saturday, July 16. The festivities take place in the Town Park, located along Route 2 in the center of the village. [private]
The event is sponsored yearly by Our Lady of the Snow, Mission of Our Lady of Victory church. The centerpiece of the event is the chicken barbecue, which serves up to 300 meals each year. While some meals will be available for walk up, you are encouraged to make reservations by calling 421-5070. The barbecue starts at noon and continues until all meals are sold out. Home-made baked goods will be on sale, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers along with hot and cold drinks, provided by the Girl Scouts of Grafton.
Other events include a Firemen’s Dunking Booth, a Civil War reenactor’s encampment with authentic tents, weapons, equipment and a cannon. Our Lady of Victory Youth Ministry will be selling popcorn, as well as offering face painting and other youth oriented activities. The Grafton Historical Society will again have a booth displaying the 125th NY Volunteer Infantry Regimental Flag, photos of Grafton soldiers and excerpts from letters written to loved ones back home from some of these volunteers. Naturalist Jorel Spain will be on hand with his display of snakes, reptiles and amphibians that both delight and educate. The Grafton Community Library will have its annual display, offering free books to patrons of the festival as well as many other interesting items. They will also be raffling off a vintage quilt. Other groups anticipated to be present include representatives of Grafton Lakes State Park to showcase their facilities and programs, as well as answer questions. Look for the Grafton Trailblazers Snowmobile Club to showcase some of their new sleds, in anticipation of actually having some snow this coming winter. Tickets will also be sold all day for the Sister Kenan McGowan’s Memorial Giant Raffle. The annual craft fair and flea market take place all day as well. The town park is located on Route 2 one mile east of the entrance to the State Park.[/private]