St. Ambrose Church in Godfrey

Holding its 18th Annual Applefest

St. Ambrose Church in Godfrey is holding its 18th annual Applefest, October 2-3, 2009 at the church grounds. The event will feature live music, indoor dining in the Community Center, a $2,500 top prize Grand Raffle, and the debut of St. Ambrose Got Talent�all open to the public.

For several years, a lip sync contest was a big draw for families, and this year the event has been expanded and renamed St. Ambrose Got Talent after the popular television show in an attempt to entertain the crowd and spotlight talented people from the parish. More than a dozen acts will either perform live or lip-sync, Saturday October 3 beginning at 6:30pm. The Applefest runs from 5:30-11:30pm each evening at the church at 820 West Homer Adams Parkway. Mass will precede the event at 4:30pm on Saturday. There are several inflatable attractions and nine other games for kids and adults, a beer tent, a food booth with fried fish (Friday), pulled pork (Saturday), fries, corn dogs and drinks, plus a basket raffle with more than 50 prizes. Inside the Community Center will be a Spaghetti and Meatball dinner on Friday, and a grilled chicken dinner on Saturday from 5:30-8:00pm each night. The indoor dinner cost is $7 for adults, $4 for kids ages 6-12, and kids 5 and under eat free. Homemade apple pie and caramel apples will also be for sale while supplies last.

Along with the talent show, there will be entertainment in the Community Center each evening from 5:30-6:30pm with Jean Heil on Friday and Jerry Lavick on Saturday. A Sock Hop will take place Friday at 7:00pm, followed by the group Back in the Saddle from 8:30 to 11:30pm. More local music will be featured on Saturday with Hope & Therapy at 8:30pm, and 33 on the Needle at 10:00pm. The drawing for the cash prizes in the grand raffle will take place around 9:30pm on Saturday October 3. For more information, contact the church at (618) 466-2921.