Are You Game For St. Bernadette Festival?

Part of this Friday and Saturday night's St. Bernadette Parish and School's 21st Annual Fall Festival may feel like one's family room.

A Gaming Arcade featuring "a bank of couches and video screens at which people can play their favorite Wii or Xbox game" is among the new attractions to the event, St. Bernadette School Director of Advancement and Alumni Melissa Kane says.

The festival runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at St. Bernadette, 266 Main St. The Gaming Arcade is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

"All games will be age appropriate and time limits will be set so that one person does not stay at a game for hours at a time," Kane said.

The festival proceeds will support parish ministries, outreach, academic programming, and teacher professional development.

"We sent a survey out to our school families and parishioners this past spring to see what they liked and disliked about the festival," Kane said Wednesday.

"We took that feedback and made a few changes that we really think people will enjoy."

This interview was conducted by e-mail.

Northborough Patch
What will the Pub Quiz involve?

Melissa Kane
It is a trivia night where teams of four will answer 10 rounds of 10 questions to compete for the title of “Smartest at St. Bernadette’s” as well as other great prizes.
 
Topics will include music (name that tune), entertainment, sports and history, among many others. The entry fee is $10 per person or $40 for a team of four.

Northborough Patch
What will the Open Mic Night involve?

Melissa Kane
This is being hosted by our youth ministry (made up of high school and college kids from our parish). It will be an opportunity for our middle school and older kids to show off their talents - whether it be singing, an instrument, telling jokes, poetry, etc. If they do not want to perform, they can sit back and relax and listen to their friends.

Northborough Patch
How much does the church and the school hope to raise from the festival?  

Melissa Kane
Last year we raised $26,000, which was split evenly between the parish and the school. We hope to meet a similar goal this year.

We moreso hope that this will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, have fun, and enjoy each other's company.

Northborough Patch
The festival is in its 21st year. How did it start?

Melissa Kane
It was started as a small church picnic 21 years ago (before the school was open) and has grown over the years. The school opened in 1997, and over the years the event has evolved into what it is today.

Northborough Patch
What do people enjoy most about the festival?

Melissa Kane
People enjoy coming together as one big community. There are not too many opportunities for our parish and school communiites to come together at one event and to welcome other familes from Northborough and surrounding towns to join in the fun. The kids really enjoy the games and prizes. The adults love the basket raffle and sweepstakes raffles and white elephant sale. Of course, all of the good food and being surrounded by friends. We hope that the Pub Quiz Trivia night and Open Mic Night will be two new traditions that people look forward to every year.