BasilicaFEST is kicking off the summer festival season, returning to its 3-day format June 10, 11, 12 in downtown Olean. The festival begins with a Special Blessing on Friday, June 10th at 4:00 p.m. We are re-celebrating last year’s 50th milestone of festivals, hence the 50th—2.0. “We’re back to three days after the pandemic,” said Jennifer Forney, co-chair of the annual event. “Our community has a long history of celebrating festivals and this year we will honor the Krahe Family. Their parents, David and Irene Krahe, were the co-chairs of the first festival in 1971. Both David and Irene passed away last year which also happened to be the actual 50th anniversary. Due to COVID restrictions in 2021, however, a one-day festival was offered. The Krahe adult children will receive a gift posthumously in recognition of their parents’ vision, hard work and dedication in coordinating a successful festival fundraiser that lasted for 50 years. Plan to soak up the atmosphere! Some of the highlights you can look forward to are the Friday Classic Car Show sponsored by Rick Bokman, Inc. and the Sunday morning 5K Run / 3K Walk sponsored by Worth W. Smith Hardware. Top entertainment for our bandstand sponsored by the Olean Times Herald will cover three days of music including Buffalo’s #1 Rock Band Breakaway, Nyce Guys, Dave Dorson and Drew Vics, Sticktights, OCTaves and Tim Hollomby DJ Services. Family fun will feature the Glenn Colton Show and everyone is looking forward to the hometown Gilroy Brothers coming back on stage. “Throughout the festival,” stated co-chair Jim Tkacik, “you will see many of the same food, drinks, and activities from the past. In addition, we have included some new activities this year!” A special Kid Zone and Teen Zone will feature games and activities that their age groups will enjoy such as corn hole toss, four square and more. In addition to the festival menu favorites, new items include “Burnt Ends” and the pastor, Fr. John Adams, will be using his mother’s recipe to make golabki aka halupki or you may know them as “pigs in the blanket.” Both golabki and AOH Chicken Dinner will be available Sunday until sold out. Unique homemade dessert selections include homemade pie served on the rectory’s Victorian wrap-around porch, dessert table and Anne Marie’s Baklava. Jennifer Kane, our parish historian, will be offering Basilica Tours Saturday and Sunday. She recently published the 3rd edition of the Basilica’s history book available for purchase at the hospitality table This year’s Saturday 4:00 pm Mass will be outside in Lincoln Park followed by a procession to the Basilica. Sunday morning Masses are at 8:00 am and 11:00 am in the Basilica followed by the annual Corpus Christi procession at noon. Inside the Basilica, festival visitors will have a special opportunity to view an International Vatican Exhibition: Miracles of the Eucharist open during the three days. Other attractions include I Got It (BINGO style), theme basket raffles, pull tabs, corn hole tournament, teen zone, kid’s games and a giant inflatable. BasilicaFEST concludes Sunday evening with the drawing for a cash raffle that includes a chance at $10,000 for one lucky winner with $15,000 total cash prizes in the drawing. All proceed from BasilicaFEST go towards maintenance and upkeep of the historic basilica built in 1915. Jim Tkacik stated, “Thank you to our many sponsors who have assisted through time, talent, and giving to make this a successful festival.” BasilicaFEST hours: Friday, June 10 from 4 pm - 10:00 pm Saturday, June 11 from Noon - 10:00 pm Sunday, June 12 from Noon - 5:30 pm (3K Walk begins at 9:30 am and 5K Run begins at 10:00 am) For more information and detailed schedule of events go to smaolean.org.