The Milwaukee Post

August 24, 2018 • Milwaukee County Post • 5 4.5" Pot Flowering Annuals $3.00 each 2/$5.00 each Reg. $4.95 ea. 261552026 LUXEMBOURG GARDENS Nice Selection of Quality Annuals, Perennials and Herbs 10" Decorative Pot Herb Garden $5 OFF Reg. Price 3.5" Pot Herbs $2.00e a . 3/$5.00 Reg. $2.95 ea. 4.5" Jumbo Pot Perennials $ 2 OFF Reg. Price W W O O W W ALL Decorative Planters HALF-PRICE! 8429 W. Forest Hill Avenue, Franklin 414-425-5696 Hours: Mon–Sat. 8-6, Sun. 9-5 Flavorful Herbs FREE with any purchase LIMIT 1 PER VISIT EXP. 9-2-18 1 FREE 3.5" Pot $2.95 Value 261552038 CONGRATULATIONS TO Ms. Dragica Vanhoff of Cudahy Winner of August's $25 Dining Out Gift Certificate! Winner must claim prize by calling the Milwaukee Post by noon, Wednesday, August 29th, 2018. No exceptions. WINNER is WINNER is By CATHERINE JOZWIK Special to the Post MILWAUKEE — St. Francis Days puts the emphasis on family. The family-friendly festi- val held over the Labor Day weekend will feature an extensive parade beginning at 11 a.m. Sept. 1, a martial arts demonstration, a photo opportunity with "fairytale princesses," a petting zoo, camel rides, carnival rides, and the Milwaukee Brewers Famous Racing Sausages in action. Festival attendees can also try their luck at beanbag and horseshoe tournaments and a trivia contest. For over half a century, dedicated volunteers have helped keep St. Francis Days running smoothly. The free event will run Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 at Milton Vretenar Memorial Park, 4230 S. Kirkwood Ave. St. Francis Days is organ- ized by a special committee that meets once a month, said Al Richards, board member of four decades and participating St. Francis Lions Club member. His wife, Joanne, has also been involved with the festival for many years. Richards added that many area festivals, including the South Shore Frolics, have been canceled due to factors including a lack of volun- teers and product sales, and increased cost of festival expenses such as perform- ers' fees, which can total upward of $25,000. The festival is funded with proceeds from the previous year's St. Francis Days. Vendors donate 5 percent of sales to operational expens- es. In past decades, owners of many area businesses con- tributed to the festival. Many of these businesses, including Hans Billerbeck Tailoring and Hewitt's Inn St. Francis, have closed. Hundreds of volunteers from area businesses and organizations donated their time, added Richard Adamczewski, former St. Francis Days board member and festival volunteer for 35 years. "We had so many people who wore different hats. We all worked together," Al Richards said. Each year, a St. Francis Days button was designed. As a festival promotional tool, participating organiza- tions handed the buttons out at area taverns and other establishments. "I was the button chair- man," Richards said. Festival brochures also were distributed. Although the number of festival participants has decreased over the years, Richards and others are determined to make each year's festival a positive and memorable one. Several thousand people attend the festival each year, Adamczewski said. Although he's no longer a St. Francis Days volunteer, he attends the festival annually. "On a good year, the park is packed," Adamczewski said. This year's performers include Celtic group Frogwater; Strutter, a trib- ute band to rock group Kiss; the Brew City Rockers, and humorous singer-song- writer Pat McCurdy. Three vendors — Seraphino's, The Landing Pub and Babe's Ice Cream — will offer desserts and tasty grub including rib and chicken dinners. The St. Francis Lions Club will sell roasted corn and potatoes. The St. Francis Civic Center will sell hot dogs, soda and hamburgers. No carry-ins are allowed at the festival. Richards encourages peo- ple to participate in the St. Francis Days festivities. "There's no Frolics any- more, so if you want a festi- val, you've got it," he said. For a complete St. Francis Days lineup, visit http://www.stfrancisdays. com/. St. Francis Days brings on family fun for 54th year SOUTH SHORE Photo courtesy of St. Francis Days A crowd enjoys the 2016 St. Francis Days festivities. As usual, the event kicks off on the Friday of Labor Day weekend — Aug. 31 — at Milton Vretenar Memorial Park.

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