MOUNT CARMEL Church plans activities for 71st anniversary

The festival runs through July 18.
NILES -- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church will celebrate the 71st anniversary of the feast of its patron saint with a religious celebration and traditional street fair on the church grounds on Robbins Avenue.
Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Saturday, immediately followed by a street procession from Erie Street to Allison then Cedar Street and Robbins Avenue.
Church groups, the first Communion class, parishioners and the public will follow the statue and recite the rosary. The statue will then be enshrined on the rectory steps.
A three-day prayer devotion begins at 7 p.m. Sunday and runs through Tuesday, with the service conducted by Father Peter Haladej.
The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. July 14-16 and from 3 to 11 p.m. July 17-18.
Lunch will be served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with carryout available. Parishioners will prepare traditional Italian foods, as well as the ever-popular cheese puff, a variety of pizzas, cavatelli, meatball sandwiches, a number of homemade Italian pastries and more.
The festival will also feature games, rides and music and dancing from 7 to 11 p.m. nightly. Mike Sudano will perform July 14, Champagne plays on July 15, Bob Matasy is set for July 16, and The Capri Band plays July 17 and 18.
The grand raffle giveaway July 18 will total $7,750, with nightly and hourly drawings also scheduled. Grand raffle prizes are $5,000, $1,000 and $500. Tickets are $1 each.
Raffle tickets are available at the festival or by calling the church rectory at (330) 652-5825.