The annual festival at Saints Simon and Jude Parish, today through Saturday, is such a popular and well-run event that it serves as a model for other community festivals.
"This is probably one of the biggest community events in Scott," said Ron Bruno, festival announcer and owner of WBGN-TV, in Green Tree. "We have other festival organizers who come to our festival to learn how to make their festival better."
More than 10,000 people visit over three days, Bruno said. About $10,000 is generated every hour and last year, the profit totaled nearly $80,000. The money goes to the parish school.
"We try to keep it fresh every year," said Peggy Sembrat, of Carnegie, festival committee chairwoman. "We look for new ideas so that we can bring new things to the festival from year to year."
Sembrat said the festival has prizes and games for people of all ages. A home show tent displays products from local companies, with demonstrations and giveaways. There are rides, a petting zoo, a Las Vegas room and nightly entertainment.
Jean Ondovik, of Scott, has run the Polish food booth for five years, preparing almost all of the food herself.
She starts preparing food in May, and freezes pierogies and stuffed cabbage at home before storing them in freezers at the church to be cooked fresh at the festival.
Ondovik estimates she makes a thousand pierogies, and so far has made 694 stuffed cabbages. She has used 200 pounds of onions.
"I like the slices to be perfect for people," Ondovik said. "So I cut all those onions up myself."
Additional Information:
If you go
SS. Simon and Jude Parish FestivalWhen : 6 p.m. to midnight today through Saturday
Where : Parish school grounds, 1607 Greentree Road, Scott
Details : 412-563-3189
