Alsatians--Ardent Feasters and Hosts
NEWS RELEASE F--For Immediate Release--ST. LOUIS DAY CELEBRATION
July 22, 2011
Alsatians--Ardent Feasters and Hosts
Further Contact: Frankie Kempf, St. Louis Church,
610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009
Phones: 830-931-2826 or 210-287-2642
CASTROVILLE, TX--Castroville Alsatians have loved good food, drink and fun and have known how to make other folks feel at home since the town was settled 167 years ago! Today, Castrovillians are still ardent feasters and hosts as proven by the famous St. Louis Day Celebration that townsfolk put on each year to feed and entertain thousands of visitors from far and wide. The famed "granddaddy" of all one-day church festivals celebrates its one hundred twenty-ninth birthday this year. In l986, the festival was presented an Official Historical Marker by the Texas Historical Commission which traces the history, growth, and significance of the now more than century-and-a-quarter-old St. Louis Day.
"The Little Alsace of Texas" expects to host several thousand folks from all across the nation at this year's "Homecoming for the State of Texas," slated for Sun., Aug 21. The site of the gala affair will again be Koenig Park (old Wernette's Garden) in Castroville, just off U.S. 90, only 15 minutes west of Sea World of Texas and Six Flags/Fiesta Texas, both in San Antonio.
Kicking off the day's activities will be a 9:00 a.m. Mass in historic St. Louis Catholic Church. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller will celebrate the Mass and the famed internationally-known Liederkranz Choir of San Antonio will sing the mass for the 28th consecutive year. Rev. Jim Conway is pastor of St. Louis parish.
Each year the townsfolk prepare a giant Alsatian-style sausage and barbecue meal, complete with all the trimmings and desserts. This year's meal will be served from 11:00 till 2:00 p.m. under a huge dining pavilion, that can accommodate the likes of 2,000 hungry diners per hour. Plates to go are also available, either at the park or at the drive through located at Braden Keller Center near the St. Louis Church. Advance meal tickets can be purchased at the regular $7.00 ticket price. Send check or money order to St. Louis Day Celebration, 610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009.
Gaily dressed dolls, many adorned in dress of days gone by can be found at the doll booth, and home crafted and specialty items and primitive antiques at the afternoon silent auction that starts at about one p.m. The event will take place inside spacious air-conditioned Koenig Park Hall. Craft and game booths for young and old, souvenirs, the 36th annual St. Louis Day Horseshoe Pitching Tourney, the 13th Annual St. Louis Downs race track, as well as numerous food and drink stands will be scattered throughout the pecan tree-shaded park to entertain and satisfy visitors all afternoon long. Live entertainment on two outdoor stages features the Flemish Folk Dancers, the Fire on the Mountain Cloggers, and the San Antonio Community Band. The Nathan Mathis Band, a locally favorite band and crowd favorite Buster Jiggs will wrap up the outside stage performances. The second stage, new this year to visitors will be the St. Louis Day Biergarten. Various genres of music featuring accordianists, classic country, oompah, and blue-grass fiddlers will keep guests entertained as they enjoy a cold tap beer or glass of wine.
Several beautiful extra-large hand-stitched quilts and an attractive array of 30-plus merchandise prizes and gift certificates will go to lucky winners at the annual picnic drawings, that will ring down the curtain on this glorious and fun-filled day. Grand prize is a $3,000 pre-paid VISA check card.
Plenty of free parking is available at and near the park, and free shuttle buses will make frequent runs between the park and the church square. There is NO admission charge to the park grounds on the day of the festival. Visit www.saintlouisday.com for more information.