Celebrate all things West 7th at West Fest this summer
There’s a party coming to West 7th this summer, and organizers want everyone in the neighborhood to know they are invited.
The event, West Fest on West 7th, is being hosted by St. Stan’s on June 8.
While the event is going to be at St. Stan’s, and the adjacent streets, organizers say this event is about celebrating the diverse history of West 7th.
“Two years ago we celebrated our 150th anniversary,” said Dan Theesees, one of the event organizers. “We wanted to say, okay, here’s where we are, and here we are as a community. Let’s celebrate the community. That’s why we’re here, right?”
The event itself, which is planned to run from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m., will have something for everyone. In the early afternoon they will have family friendly activities, including an appearance from the Teddy Bear Band, as well as free food, police and fire trucks and prizes for kids.
“Two to four is kind of family time, but it’s not limited to family activities,” said Dave Bredemus, another organizer of the event. “We’re going to have walking tours of the Little Bohemia neighborhood and of the brewery neighborhood.”
Bredemus added that Northfield Lines has donated a bus for the day so they can have two different historical bus tours of the neighborhood as well.
At 4:00, St. Stan’s will be hosting their Saturday Mass, which will be led by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
After Mass, the party is planned to continue, with food trucks, beer and wine sales, a raffle and bands playing on a stage on Superior Ave.
“We’re going to have, really, a legendary band, the Goombas,” Said Bredemus.
“People can dance in the street if they want,” Theesees added.
Bredemus and Theesees said, while putting together a big celebration is going to be fun, their hope is to make West 7th a tighter community.
“I remember when he came here, people asked, “why are you coming here from Nativity?” I want to be needed,” said Theesees. “And that’s what all the churches in West 7th need, all the social service agencies need. We need the new people and the people who’ve been here for generations to come together and keep these things going.”
“So we’re all in this together,” Bredemus added. “And it’s and it’s not about just our church. It’s about all these groups. It’s about the community.”
West Fest on West 7th
Jun 8, 2024
2:00-4:00 p.m.
St. Stanislaus Church
398 Superior St.
