St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is ready to announce the second annual Italian Feast. Families can enjoy music, games, merchandise sales and a search for the hidden Topo Gigio, the church mouse mascot.
Admission is free. Attendees can park nearby and take a free trolley ride right to the church, located at 180 Laurel Ave, Tryon. Tours of the church, including a church history, will be given at the event, complete with the Schola Choir singing ancient Gregorian chants.
The menu for the event’s feast includes favorite Italian dishes like wood-fired pizza, sausage with peppers and onions on fresh crusty Panini rolls, pasta and marinara, eggplant lasagna, Italian sodas, gelato, pizza fritte (fried pizza dough, sweetened with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar) other homemade dessert delicacies of biscotti, canoli and more. There will also be beer and wine. All foods and beverages will be cash sales.
While you enjoy the beautiful grounds of the church, Italian music will fill the air along with the smells and sights of savory foods. In adjacent parking lot areas, there will be karaoke, music, dancing, games and prizes. Games include bocce ball, basketball free throw, corn hole toss and Sea of Galilee fishing for prizes.
There will also be merchandise on sale along with traditional Catholic items. Enter raffles to win gift baskets.
To kick off this feast, the evening before at sunset, a traditional Catholic procession will take place on the main streets of Tryon.It will include altar boys carrying incense and torches, a traditional decorated donkey cart bearing a statue of St. John the Baptist, the Church’s patron saint, banners, and several hundred parishioners and clergy will be holding candles and chanting reverently.
The purpose is to bring awareness to the church and provide an opportunity for those who may have never seen a Catholic procession. The procession will end at the church, followed by music, dessert and refreshments. All are welcome to join in.
For more information, call the church at 828-859-9574 or Janet Sciacca at 864-457-6530.  Also check the church website, at www.stjohntryon.com and its Facebook page.
– article submitted by Janet Sciacca