What began as a new neighborhood festival just two years ago is evolving into something even bigger this fall.

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is hosting West Fest on 7th Sept. 12-13, combining its popular West Fest celebration with the parish’s more than 40-year tradition of serving its renowned turkey dinner into a single weekend designed to celebrate both the West 7th neighborhood and the people who call it home.

The expanded format reflects both practical realities and a broader vision, being able to use the limited resources of the church more effectively while, hopefully, reaching the largest number of people.

“The main thing was volunteers. For a lot of people, these are both big commitments,” organizer Dave Bredemus said. “We’re trying to take the best of the two [events].” Bredemus said.

“So the slots really are street dance, turkey dinner, family fun,” he added.

That three-part structure defines this year’s festival. Saturday evening centers on a street dance featuring The Goombas, classic cars, food trucks, pull tabs and beverages. Sunday shifts to the church’s famous turkey dinner, children’s activities, history tours, bingo, live entertainment and community displays.

While the format has changed, the event’s mission remains the same as when West Fest debuted in 2024: bringing together longtime residents, newcomers and neighborhood organizations.

“We wanted to reach out to the West 7th neighborhood, which demographically, really changed in the last 20 years,” Bredemus said.

That community focus will be even more visible this year.

The Czech and Slovak Protective Society Hall will play a larger role, hosting Czech dancers, tours and opening its gift shop. St. Peter’s Church will have a table, and organizers are working with the Fort Road Federation on a neighborhood history tour highlighting decades of improvements along West 7th Street.

“We wanted to evolve more outside agencies that could benefit from it to again, make it a community event,” Bredemus said.

The neighborhood tours proved to be one of the biggest surprises during the inaugural West Fest. The 2024 walking tours attracted far more participants than organizers anticipated, prompting their return this fall.

“We wanted to take 35 on the walking tour and end up being like 50 or 60 people,” Bredemus said.

This year, tours will include historic bus rides through the neighborhood, tours of CSPS Hall and a new exploration of the ethnic communities that helped build West 7th.

“One of the tours that we’re doing is going to be a tour of all the ethnic groups that built West 7th, the Irish, the Italians, the Czechs and the Germans,” Bredemus said.

The festival will also continue honoring neighborhood leaders through the Betty Moran Award, named after the long-time neighborhood advocate and last year’s inaugural recipient.

Sunday remains anchored by one tradition that has been drawing crowds for decades: the church’s turkey dinner.

“We’ve been doing it somewhere over 40 years,” organizer John Murphy said of the dinner’s history.

The meal features farm-fresh Iowa turkeys, homemade side dishes and St. Stan’s well-known baked goods, jams and relishes. Takeout dinners will also be available while supplies last.

Families will also find plenty to do throughout Sunday, from the Teddy Bear Band and Czech dancers to face painting, children’s games, police and fire demonstrations, classic cars and bingo. Organizers have also expanded the prize offerings, including two children’s bicycles.

Returning favorites from 2024 include Pat Mancini’s band The Goombas, whose members have longstanding ties to St. Stanislaus and the neighborhood.

“Pat Mancini called me and said, ‘I want to make sure we have that event. I want to get it on our calendar for The Goombas because my dad loves St. Stans,’” Bredemus recalled.

The festival is also expanding its fundraising efforts. Rather than the $100 raffle tickets offered at the previous event, organizers have introduced a more accessible raffle with $20 tickets featuring two $5,000 grand prizes, along with additional cash prizes. An online silent auction will also run throughout the weekend.

Like many community organizations, St. Stanislaus is still looking for volunteers to make the weekend possible.

“We need a little help,” Bredemus said.

Those interested can contact the church directly to volunteer.

Ultimately, organizers hope West Fest becomes more than just another neighborhood festival, but as a place to start creating community.

“It’s amazing that after the pandemic, people really started to isolate themselves,” Murphy said. “We haven’t returned from that.”

“We want to capture the West 7th of the past,” Bredemus added. “You have to plug into places that you feel comfortable.”

For organizers, West Fest is one small way to help change that — one turkey dinner, history tour and street dance at a time.

If You Go

West Fest on 7th

Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 398 W. Superior St., St. Paul

Hours:

Saturday: 5-9 p.m. (Street dance, food trucks, classic cars, beverages, pull tabs)
Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Turkey dinner, family activities, tours, bingo, entertainment)

More information: