Taste your way around Arkansas

Published: November 18, 2016

Travis McAfee / Arkansas Catholic file

Italian traditions are still alive and thriving in Tontitown as Jettie Franco passes on her skill in the art of spaghetti-making to 16-year-old Shelby Pianalto. Pianalto was Queen Concordia for the 2016 Tontitown Grape Festival.

Travis McAfee / Arkansas Catholic file

Here are some of the diocese’s parish and religious order events that put special emphasis on tasty food and treats through 2017, as listed on the Calendar of Events at dolr.org.

2016

Nov. 19-20: St. Mary Annual Bazaar, Helena. In the parish hall on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday events include a bake sale, silver jewelry sale and Christmas market. On Sunday, the spaghetti dinner and raffle will also be held. Tickets for the dinner and raffle may be purchased at the door or by calling Weida McGee in the church office at (870) 338-6990.

Nov. 19-20: Sesquicentennial Celebration. Our Lady of the Lake Church, Lake Village. For information, contact Shannon Hill at (870) 265-6267.

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Celebration. St. Mary Church, Altus. Lawrence Hall. For more information, call (479) 468-2585.

Dec. 3: 87th Annual Louie Mancini Sausage Supper. Cathedral of St. Andrew, Little Rock. Begins at 5:30 p.m. in McDonald Hall and will include the famous Louie Mancini sausage supper, live Subiaco Jazz Band, silent auctions, raffles, a visit from St. Nicholas and more. Please bring an unwrapped gift for a child in need. Tickets are $5 for children and $15 for adults.

Dec. 10 -11: St. Scholastica Holiday Bake Sale. St. Scholastica Retreat Center, Fort Smith. The sisters’ annual bake sale will be open on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. Bread, rolls, cakes, pies, cookies by the pound, jellies, jams, pickles and jar mixes, scrumptious candies and handcrafted items will be available. Contact Maryanne Meyerriecks (479) 783-4147.

2017

Feb. 4: International Food Fest. St. James Church, Searcy. In the parish hall. Joe Giezeman (501) 279-2807.

Feb. 11: Spaghetti Dinner. St. Raphael Church, Springdale. 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall. Nancy Phillips (489) 756-6711, ext. 243.

Feb. 18: Mardi Gras Celebration. Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock. In the parish center at 5:30 p.m. Angie Robertson (501) 835-4323.

Feb. 25: Immaculate Conception School Spaghetti Dinner. Fort Smith. In the parish center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. They may be purchased from students, the church office or at the door. Dine-in or drive-thru available at the one-way curb in front of the gym (North A St.). Sharon Blentlinger (479) 785-7974.

March 3: Men’s Club Fish Fry. Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock. In the parish center from 4:40 to 7 p.m. Sam Giglio (501) 835-4323.

March 3: Men’s Club Fish Bake. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Hot Springs Village. Diners may be seated at 5 or 6:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Men’s Club charities. For more information, contact Don Glinka at (501) 922-9386.

March 17: Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry. St. Joseph Church, Pine Bluff. Every Friday during Lent (March 3 to April 7) from 5 to 7 p.m. in Gallagher Hall. Mike Lambert (870) 692-5234.

March 17: Knights of Columbus Catfish Dinner. St. Mary Church, Saint Vincent. In the parish hall. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 10908. Henry Beck (501) 354-4854.

March 17: Stations of the Cross and Lenten Meal. Fort Smith. A Lenten, meatless meal will be served in the parish center after the stations. All are invited. Kay Geisbauer (479) 783-7963.

March 17: Knights of Columbus Fish Fry. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Hot Springs Village. Knights of Columbus Council 10208 will host this event in the lower hall at 5 p.m. Ken Silvers (501) 247-6804.

March 18: St. Joseph Day Dinner. St. Joseph Church, Center Ridge. In the parish hall from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Melinda Anderson (501) 208-4935.

April 29: Sonfest. Immaculate Conception Church, North Little Rock. 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the parish center. For more information, call Carmel Hanley in the church office at (501) 835-4323, ext. 101.

May 5-6: Immaculate Conception School Spring Festival. Immaculate Conception Church, Fort Smith. In the church parking lot. It will include food, drinks, games and entertainment. Sharon Blentlinger (479) 785-7974.

May 7: Rexfest Carnival. Christ the King Church, Little Rock. Includes food booths, prizes, a dunk tank, rock climbing wall, photo booth, bounce house and many more games as well as an artisan area where local vendors will be selling their goods. Teri Tribby (501) 225-6774, ext. 228.

May 19-20: Carnival. Christ the King Church, Fort Smith. On the parish grounds and in the parish center from 6 to 11 p.m. each night. Bob Geurtz (479) 783-7745.

June 2-3: Bazaar. Sacred Heart Church, Morrilton. This annual event will feature a midway both Friday and Saturday nights with games and concessions for all ages, an all-you-can-eat, family-style spaghetti and sausage and turkey and dressing dinner on Saturday night, along with raffle prize drawings, including a vehicle, and silent auction. For more information, contact Alisha Koonce at (501) 354-4358.

June 17: 88th Annual Picnic. St. Joseph Church, Center Ridge. In the parish hall from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Melinda Anderson (501) 208-4935.

July 15: Bazaar and Barbecue Beef Supper. St. Mary Church, Saint Vincent. Supper will begin at 4 p.m. in the parish hall. Games on the grounds will begin at 5 p.m. Linda Shoelen (501) 354-3206.

Aug. 9-13: 118th Annual Tontitown Grape Festival. St. Joseph Church, Tontitown, tontitowngrapefestival.com

Sept. 15-16: Karnawal Dinner and Midway. Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, North Little Rock.

Sept. 29-30: Autumnfest. St. Theresa Church, Little Rock.

Oct. 1: 90th Annual Spaghetti Dinner and Bazaar. St. Francis of Assisi Church, Little Italy.

Oct. 7: Blessed Sacrament Fall Festival. Blessed Sacrament Church, Jonesboro. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Click for the Catholic Food 2016 index