St. Andrew School festival opens Thursday
Cape Coral’s Saint Andrew Catholic School will host its big annual fundraiser next week.
The Saint Andrew Catholic School Festival will kick off Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. on the school’s grounds. An annual celebration, the event features carnival rides, games and live entertainment.
Tim Holleran, festival chair, explained that it serves as a fundraiser for the school.
“It allows us to, ultimately, give scholarships to needy families for a Catholic education,” he said.
The festival will continue Friday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the school. On Saturday, Jan. 16, the event will be be open from noon to 11 p.m. and then on Sunday, Jan. 17, from noon to 10 p.m.
Organizers anticipate that this year’s attendance will mirror last year’s turnout.
“We always estimate between 10,000 and 15,000 people,” Holleran said.
Admission and parking are free.
“There are midway rides,” he said. “They’re carnival rides.”
There is something for every age group.
“There’s a whole kiddie ride section,” Holleran said.
Pre-sale ride bracelets are currently available for $55 each up until 5 p.m. Thursday. At the opening of the festival and then for the remaining three days, the ride bracelets will be available for $75 each.
Ride bracelets entitle the wearer to unlimited rides during the entire four days.
Single tickets for the rides will also be available.
“The rides average between $4 and $7 for tickets,” he said.
The festival also features a mix of games and activities.
“We have festival games that are put on by the carnival people,” Holleran said. “They’re carnival games, where you shoot things and throw balls. The standard carnival games, where you win prizes.”
There will be a mix of live entertainment throughout the four days.
“There’s local groups. We have several dance companies that put on ballot and some other jazz performances,” he said. “We also have DJ Chris Cammarota as well for several nights.”
A silent auction will be held in the school cafeteria, with bidding to close at 6 p.m. Sunday.
“We have several weekend getaway vacations,” Holleran said.
Other items include a paddle board, hotel stays, Key West Express tickets and gift baskets.
“We auction off a cute little puppy,” he said.
“We have some pretty nice things,” Holleran added.
Also Sunday, a $10,000 raffle drawing will take place at 7 p.m. Tickets are $1 each.
“The winner does not need to be present,” he said.
There will be food and drinks available for sale on site.
“We have outside food vendors,” Holleran said.
For the second year in a row, local restaurants will also be selling their fare.
“It went very well,” he said of adding the local booths last year. “We attracted a lot more of an older crowd because it gave the parents, the adults, a lot more options to choose from for food.”
Organizers encouraged the public to come out.
“I think it’s the best entertainment that’s put on in Cape Coral,” Holleran said.
Pre-sale festival ride bracelets can be purchased online at: saintandrewsfestival.com or on the grounds of Saint Andrew Catholic School on the weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through Thursday.
Parking is available at the church, Busey Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Cape Coral Breeze.
For more information, visit the website at: saintandrewsfestival.com.
Saint Andrew Catholic School is at 2628 S. Del Prado Blvd.