Nativity carnival kicks off summer season this weekend Nativity carnival kicks off summer season this weekend (June 08, 2005)

By Jane Knoerle

Almanac Lifestyles Editor

What started out as a parish event 25 years ago now is expected to draw 20,000 visitors to the 25th Nativity carnival to be held Friday through Sunday, June 10, 11 and 12, on the Nativity school grounds at the corner of Oak Grove Avenue and Laurel Street in Menlo Park.

The old-fashioned country fair features rides, entertainment and family dinners. It also serves as an informal reunion for Nativity school graduates and former parishioners.

Festivities begin on Friday night with a tri-tip and pasta dinner (also served on Saturday night), prepared by parish volunteers, and music by Carlos Castaneda & the Mystic Pilots.

The event will feature 14 carnival rides and a "kiddie land" for ages 2 and up from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Musical entertainment will include the Bay Area Band, Menlo-Atherton High School Jazz Band, Hillview Jazz Band, Mt. Carmel's Dads' Band, and D-5.

Along with the tri-tip dinners and pancake breakfast, visitors can snack on hamburgers, hot dogs, Philly cheesesteaks, pizza, and Hawaiian barbecue, or join in a pie-eating contest. Beer, wine and margaritas will be available.

A silent auction, with many gift certificates and sporting event items, will continue until 11 p.m. Saturday evening. There will also be a raffle of a 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder, with the winner announced on Sunday afternoon.

A Sunday pancake breakfast, prepared by parish workers, will be served from 8:30 to 11 a.m. No reservations are needed for either breakfast or dinner. Carnival festivities will continue from noon to 6 p.m.

John Olachea's salsa band and The Dadz, composed of Nativity dads, will entertain on Sunday afternoon.

Paul Hernandez is carnival chairman for the second year. The carnival's longest-serving chairman is John Conway. He and Frank O'Hare were co-chairs for the first carnival in 1981 and continued for six years until Mr. O'Hare was killed in 1986. Mr. Conway continued to hold the job for 19 years.

Parishioners who have been involved with the carnival since the early days include Bob Dehn, Pat O'Hare (Frank O'Hare's son), Doris Fredrick and members of the Neylan family. During the past 25 years, the carnival has raised $1.3 million for parish projects.

Carnival hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 323-7914.

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