Petition to Continue the St. Coleman Italian Festival

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask St. Coleman Parish and School to reconsider the decision to discontinue the St. Coleman Italian Festival after 41 years of cherished tradition.

As a former student of St. Coleman (Pre-K through 8th grade) and a lifelong attendee of the festival, I know firsthand how much this event means to our parish, school families, and the wider community. The festival has always been more than a fundraiser—it is a neighborhood tradition that unites generations and celebrates our faith, culture, and community spirit.

The Italian Festival is:

A Community Tradition: Families return year after year. Alumni, parishioners, neighbors, and friends all gather to celebrate together.

A Labor of Love: For decades, parents and community members volunteered to run food stands, rides, and activities—long before food trucks and outside vendors. The heart of the festival has always been powered by us, the people of this parish and neighborhood. We can return to that model and keep costs down while keeping the tradition alive.

More Than Financials: While it has raised important funds, its true value is measured in fellowship, memories, and the way it brings together young and old alike. Rising costs should not erase this legacy.

We understand that hosting such a large event comes with challenges, but the solution is not to end the festival. The solution is to return it to its roots—community-run, parish-driven, and focused on faith, food, fun, and fellowship. With renewed parent and parishioner involvement, along with sponsors and volunteers, we can keep this tradition alive without diminishing its spirit.

The St. Coleman Italian Festival is not just an event—it is part of our identity as a parish and neighborhood. Ending it now would be a loss too great to accept.

We ask parish and school leadership to work with the community to keep the Festival alive, by bringing it back to its basics: community-led, family-focused, and filled with the spirit of St. Coleman.