By Khalida Sarwari
The smell of corn dogs and funnel cakes and the roar of roller coasters can mean only one thing: Sacred Heart’s popular carnival is just around the corner.
Now in its seventh year, the event will offer more than rides and delicious food. There will also be live music, carnival games, a sports lounge, children’s activities and raffles. This year’s three-day program is set for Oct. 14-16 in the Sacred Heart parking lot.
The carnival is the brainchild of Janice Thornburg, who helped kick off the first event in September 2010 as a way to expand Sacred Heart’s community outreach efforts. The event has since been held on the third weekend of October every year, becoming bigger in scale and attendance over time, according to Lisa-Marie Lonich, co-chair of the Sacred Heart Parish Carnival Committee, a group of parishioners charged with planning and organizing the carnival.
“We had between 4,000 and 5,000 [people attend] over the course of three days” last year, she said.
A parishioner of 40 years whose aunt was the last nun to teach at Sacred Heart, Lonich has been involved in organizing the event for the last four years. The carnival is completely run by volunteers, some of whom aren’t even affiliated with the school or church, she said.
“Our goal isn’t to be another St. Mary’s,” said Lonich, referring to the annual St. Mary’s Country Fair in Los Gatos. “It’s a fundraising event for the church and the school to bring the community together to help people socialize and interact. We’re all about building community and making it better.”
The itinerary for the festival includes performances by the Los Gatos Dance Company and a rock band from Archbishop Mitty High School, bingo games, balloon makers and a magic show. The bands Blue House, Rodeo House, The Closers, Jim Stevens and Friends and the Cocktail Monkeys will perform.
“We’re just so excited,” Lonich said. “We hope it’s one of our biggest and brightest years.”
Both parking and entry to the carnival are free, but there is a charge for rides and raffle tickets, which can be purchased through the school in advance or at the carnival. The grand prize for the raffle is $5,000.
According to Lonich, about 35 percent of the proceeds will go to the school for scholarships for incoming students while the remainder will go to the San Jose Diocese, of which Sacred Heart is a member.
The event will take place Oct. 14 from 5 to 10:30 p.m., Oct. 15 from 2 to 10:30 p.m. and Oct. 16 from noon to 6 p.m. at 13716 Saratoga Ave. in Saratoga. Overflow parking will be available at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
For more information about the event or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visitsacredheartsaratoga.org/carnival.
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