Vacation Trip Should Include St. Louis Day
NEWS RELEASE D-- For Immediate Release --ST. LOUIS DAY CELEBRATION
July 22, 2011
Vacation Trip Should Include St. Louis Day
Further Contact: Frankie Kempf, St. Louis Church,
610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009
Phones: 210-931-2826, 210-287-2642
CASTROVILLE, TX--The St. Louis Day Celebration, a welcome treat for travelers from far and wide, is set for Sun., Aug. 21, in Castroville's Koenig Park. As in the past, many visitors will be planning their vacation trips around the "Homecoming for the State of Texas" and will be arriving in the "Little Alsace of Texas" just in time to help this "granddaddy" of church festivals celebrate its 129th birthday.
THE FAMED FESTIVAL offers a meal of Alsatian style sausage and barbecue beef, surrounded by local arts and crafts, fun and "just folks" atmosphere.
THE CELEBRATION, begun a century-and-a-quarter ago, is Castroville's big day. It started back in 1882 as a small church homecoming, bringing together a handful of families. Last year's picnic again attracted several thousand visitors to the historic Alsatian settlement. Castroville, the largest single Alsatian settlement outside France today, on U.S. 90, just 15 minutes west of Sea World of Texas and Six Flags/Fiesta Texas, both in San Antonio, is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites in Washington D.C.
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller will celebrate a special 9:00 picnic morning Mass in 141 year-old St. Louis Catholic Church to kick off the day's events. The internationally-known Liederkranz Choir of San Antonio will sing the Mass. A 7:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday will accommodate early-arriving guests, according to Rev. Jim Conway, the parish pastor.
THE SPACIOUS CASTROVILLE REGIONAL PARK, located in the southwest sector of town, offers camping facilities for early-arriving and/or late-staying celebration goers, including complete camper hook-ups, at reasonable rates. Call 210-538-2224 for more information or reservations.
THE LUXURIUS HOTEL ALSACE AND SPA, recently renovated and styled in pioneer Alsatian decor, is located on U.S. 90, on the western edge of Castroville. The beautiful Inn, situated on the high ground near Cross Hill, gives their guests a breathtaking view of the quaint little Alsatian settlement in the valley below. Forty comfortable rooms, each with phone, TV, air-conditioning and ceiling fans, to add a touch of days gone by, are furnished for comfort as well as beauty, and are offered to early arriving and late staying picnickers at very reasonable rates. A sundeck overlooking a spacious swimming pool is an added feature as is a relaxing spa with all the amenities. Call 830-538-9517 for reservations and more information.
THE LANDMARK INN STATE HISTORIC SITE offers accommodations for rooms, built 156 years ago, and the charming grounds are reminiscent of years past and are characteristic of Castroville's pioneer homes. More information can be obtained by calling 210-931-2133 or by writing Park Manager, Box 577, Castroville, TX 78009.
ON PICNIC DAY AT KOENIG PARK meal serving begins at 11:00 a.m. and lasts till about 2:00 p.m., with two efficient serving areas being utilized to eliminate waiting in line. Plates to go are also available, either at the park or at the drive through located at Braden Keller Center near St. Louis Church. Two-thousand hungry diners per hour will be fed, and in the afternoon, various food and drink booths will keep appetites in check.
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF FUN, including games, rides, singing, live outside entertainment, the St. Louis Day Biergarten Tent, bands, dancing groups, a giant afternoon auction in spacious air-conditioned Koenig Park Hall, featuring numerous antique items, bingo, arts and crafts, doll booth, souvenirs, and various other types of amusements, lasting throughout the afternoon. The 36th Annual St. Louis Day Horseshoe Pitching Tournament will feature past ladies' and men's tourney champions battling it out with numerous challengers, going after this year's championship trophies, while the 13th Annual St. Louis Downs Futurity will be crowning its champion. The annual picnic drawings, one featuring several huge hand-stitched quilts, valued at about $1200 to $1500, and the main "Pot of Gold" drawing, with a giant slate of thirty-plus fabulous gift certilficates and merchandise prizes, rings down the curtain on the day's events.
MEAL TICKETS for heaping plates of barbecue and sausage plus all the trimmings are only $7.00 each. Advance meal tickets may be ordered by sending check or money order for tickets to St. Louis Day Celebration, 610 Madrid, Castroville, TX 78009.
PLENTY OF FREE PARKING is available at or near the park and shuttle buses will make frequent runs between the church square and the park on picnic day. There is NO admission fee to the park grounds. Visit www.saintlouisday.com for more information.