Maria Stein Country Fest To Bring Rides, Music, Food And Community Traditions June 26th Through 28th

Maria Stein Country Fest will return June 26th through June 28th, bringing a full weekend of rides, food, entertainment, contests and community traditions.

Longtime organizer Randy Homan joined WCSM’s Spectrum program to preview the festival. Homan described Country Fest as a “mini county fair,” with rides, concessions, food, entertainment, free parking and activities for both kids and adults.

The festival opens Friday, June 26th, with rides, concessions, food and drinks. Homan said this year’s opening ceremony will also recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will take part, and a flag retirement ceremony is planned. Homan said the ceremony is a good opportunity for people to see the proper way to retire an American flag.

Friday night will also include the Country Fest scholarship presentation. Homan said the scholarship program helps connect students with the community by giving them a chance to volunteer and see how local support works both ways.

Chicketti Family Amusements will provide rides throughout the weekend. Homan said ride tickets and wristband information are available through the festival brochure and website.

Entertainment will include 127 North, Electric Circus and The Wet Bandits. Homan said organizers try to bring in bands that area residents enjoy while also offering something different each year.

One of the festival’s signature events is tractor square dancing. Homan said the event is exactly what it sounds like, with drivers in costume using tractors to square dance in the mud. He said the Maria Stein version helped make the event well known across the area.

Saturday events include the Mercer Health 5K Challenge, a car and motorcycle cruise-in, and several competitions, including football, dodgeball, punt pass and kick, human foosball, cornhole and frisbee golf.

The festival will also feature the popular Knights of St. John chicken dinners, available both on the grounds and through the drive-thru at the Knights Hall.

The Maria Stein Shrine, museum, Pilgrim Gift Shop and art show will also be part of the weekend. Homan said the shrine grounds remain an important part of the community’s religious and historical identity.

Sunday will include the 92nd annual pilgrimage, along with the Mini-Indy Race, Diaper Derby, Challenger League Baseball, the auction and the raffle drawing. Homan said one auction item this year will specifically support the repair of St. John Church.

Homan said it takes a large number of volunteers to make the festival happen, including members of the Knights of St. John, the American Legion, boosters, scouts, school groups and community members from across the area.

Proceeds from the festival help support several local organizations, including the Knights, the Legion, the Shrine and other groups that serve the community throughout the year.

And no Country Fest preview would be complete without turtle soup. Homan said the famous recipe dates back to the old Legion picnic and remains one of the festival’s most popular traditions, with some people stopping for a bowl and others buying it by the gallon to take home.

More information, including the full schedule, is available through the Maria Stein Country Fest website.