The coronavirus pandemic is impacting yet another popular summer event: the annual St. Rocco’s Festival, which traditionally takes place during Labor Day weekend, drawing huge crowds to St. Rocco Parish in Cleveland.
“Although we are not able to have our festival this year, we will still celebrate the feast of St. Rocco, our parish patron saint,” said Father James Mayer, OdeM, St. Rocco’s pastor. He said the difficult decision to cancel the festival was made after “long and serious prayer and consultation” with officials from both the Diocese of Cleveland and the city.
This would have been the 106th annual parish festival. Previous events included plenty of food, games, music and of course, the popular greased-pole climb. The festival is a homecoming of sorts, Father Mayer said, and draws people of all ages to the parish grounds to celebrate the parish family, ancestry and Italian heritage.
Even though the other festival features will not be offered this year, Father Mayer said people can enjoy their favorite festival foods as take-out items from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a four-day drive-thru event Sept. 4-7 on the parish grounds, 3205 Fulton Road, Cleveland.
“We’ll have homemade zeppoli (Italian doughnuts), sausage sandwiches, spaghetti and meatball dinners, lasagna dinners, cannoli and lemoncello cake,” he said.
Father Mayer said he is relying on the expertise of many St. Rocco parishioners who own restaurants and other businesses to help plan and implement the drive-thru. They also have talked with another church that switched its festival to a drive-thru food event this year. Members of that church shared information about a computer program to help with placing orders, Father Mayer said. “Everyone has been very supportive and generous,” he said.
Those planning to purchase food at the drive-thru should enter the parish grounds from Fulton Road and drive into the parking lot where vehicles will be directed to a tent. Volunteers will take their order and direct them to another tent where runners will deliver the pre-packaged food. No pre-orders are available. Payment can be made by cash or credit card. Vehicles will exit the parish grounds on West 33rd Street.
“Walk-ups are not permitted,” Father Mayer said. “Orders will be taken only from those in vehicles in order to keep contact to a minimum and to be as safe as possible.” He said volunteers will be wearing face masks and following other safety and health guidelines.
Each customer at the drive-thru also will receive a commemorative ad booklet listing supporters of the event. Call 216-961-8331 for information on donating to this year’s event.
“This is something new for us. The parish festival is the premier social gathering of our community each year. We wanted to keep that tradition going, even if it’s different this year,” Father Mayer said.
“As a Catholic community, we are faith-filled and resilient. We will pass through this dark valley stronger and more vibrant. I eagerly await when we are back to ‘normal’ and can see one another again. Viva San Rocco,” he added.
For more information on the drive-thru for festival foods, call 216-961-8331 or email mbuhaley@saintroccocleveland.com.