OLA’s Fiesta is the third largest annual event in Claremont, drawing crowds of about 15,000 to enjoy games, carnival rides, and continuous live entertainment. The first Fiesta of 1947 raised an impressive $3,500 with the raffle of a Plymouth sedan which became the down payment on construction of the parish church. Today’s Fiesta and grand raffle support the ministries and community outreach programs of the parish.
There is always a line at the burrito booth, day and night, during the Fiesta which also serves up an international array of tempting, home-style cuisine: tacos and tamales made by the Spanish-speaking community; egg rolls, satay sticks and fried rice prepared by the Vietnamese community; homemade desserts donated by school families; as well as tri-tip beef sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, pizza, nachos, and snowcones. Everything “goes down easy” but choosing is hard! Entertainment includes home-grown ensembles such as the Vietnamese Dragon Dancers and Hispanic Community Entertainment, as well as professional groups Johnny Starr and the Galaxy, Memphis 54 and The Esquires. There is something for every age group in classic games such as a cake walk, bingo, glass pitch, basketball cage and goldfish toss. The best thing about Fiesta is the warm, friendly feeling of family created by the army of dedicated volunteers working on Mother’s Day weekend. “We do it because it helps the church, it’s a lot of fun, it’s a good product, we make a lot of friends, and it builds community,” testifies June Seccombe. The 2007 Fiesta (“Swing Back to 1947)” theme) runs Friday, May 11 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, May 13 from noon to 9 p.m. on the parish grounds at 435 Berkeley Ave., two blocks west of the Claremont Village.
Food Booths Beer Garden, Hamburgers, Burritos, Cotton Candy, Hot Dogs, Corn Dogs, Nachos, Popcorn, Snowcones, Pretzels, Pizza, Soda, Sweete Shoppe, Tacos, Tamales, Corn-on-the-Cob, Kettle Korn, Specialty Coffee, Vietnamese, Wine
Game Booths Goldfish Toss, Basketball, Bingo, Face-Painting, Glass Pitch, One Ball, Fish Til U Win
Entertainment
Friday, May 11th: Opening ceremony Open 5 to 11 pm Neil Morrow & Memphis 54
Saturday, May 12th: Folkloric Dancers Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Moultrie Studio Studio 8 Dance Random Spark
Sunday, May 13th Vietnamese Dance Open noon to 9 p.m. Hispanic Community Entertainment The Esquires Big Band/Swing Dancing Raffle Drawing for Cash Prizes
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