Annual summer festival set to return in Lenox

LENOX – This year’s annual St. Ann’s Summer Festival will not only look forward but will raise money to protect the church’s past.

As part of this year’s drive, a Historical Restoration Fund will be established to aid in keeping the 100-year old St. Ann Church in sound structural repair, maintaining and enhancing its visual beauty for Lenox’s downtown historic district.

For one event during the festival, which runs July 12-14, Pastor C.J. Waitekus will provide a guided tour of the church building on Saturday (July 13) pointing out small treasures and other points of interest.

The present St. Ann Church was constructed in 1912 and has a large history to protect. It was built in an early English Norman style at a cost of $100,000. The church was designed by architect F. Burrell Hoffman of New York and built by the E.L. Sampson Brothers of Springfield.

In the spirit of a community celebration, local resident and internationally known artist Marc Rosenthal donated his time and talent to provide the festival’s signature poster, which highlights many of the festival’s events.

One annual highlight is the casino night on July 12, and for this year’s event, which runs from 6-10 p.m., a local resort is supplying the gaming equipment.

Twenty-two of The Berkshires’ finest restaurants are offering foods for the Saturday evening Taste of The Berkshires. Merchants and private donors are giving items to the silent and live auctions, including a week’s summer stay in a Martha’s Vineyard home and a week in a private unit at the Aruba Beach Club.

Community residents are donating books and miscellaneous items for the book and tag sales, while others will bake their best for the bake sale, both on July 13. Also on Saturday, dog owners will parade their dogs for prizes, and teens will have a movie night.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be available throughout the festival.

All are welcome to celebrate community at an open-air 11:15 a.m. Mass under a tent on Sunday following a pancake and sausage breakfast.

Posted by Kameron Z. Spaulding on June 6, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry