Know Before You Go: 2024 St. Gianna Parish Carnival

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Enjoy fall’s splendor when the St. Gianna Parish carnival returns to Evergreen Park. The 2024 edition of Gianna Fest runs Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20, Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. Gianna Fest is the parish’s main fundraiser of the year, so come hungry, thirsty and ready to play some raffles or hop on some rides.

Complimentary rides will be offered to friends with special needs and a companion from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, courtesy of Alpine Amusements and the Martyrs Fest committee. The carnival will be closed to the public for the first hour, without lights, music and other stimuli for those with sensory sensitivities.

Here’s everything you need to know about times, mega passes, bands, food, libations, rides, raffles and more.

Where:

St. Gianna Parish (formerly Queen of Martyrs), 10233 S. Central Park Ave., Evergreen Park

Hours:

5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Sept. 20
Noon to midnight Saturday, Sept. 21
Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22

Rides

Rides close at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 8 p.m. Sunday, Rides and games are provided by Alpine Amusements. Rides will be located in the St. Louis Avenue parking lot.

Ride Wristbands

Daily Wristbands will also be available for unlimited rides from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Wrist bands must be purchased the day of use and are only good for that day. Daily Wristbands are $35.

Eats

Local restaurants will be selling food all three days of Gianna Fest, including:

• Freddies on 31st Street in Bridgeport
• Barraco's Pizza
• Bo's Concession
• 101 BBQ
• Boy Scout Troop 637
• Sunshine Mexican Cafe
• St. Gianna Cookie Co.+

There will also be a continental breakfast served Sunday, Sept. 22 after 10:30 a.m. Mass, hosted by the Gianna Altar and Rosary Society.

Raffles

Top prize is $10,000 cash, with additional cash prizes of $2,500, $1,500, two $1,000 prizes, and five $500 prizes.

Tickets cost $50 each, or three for $125, or five for $200.

Winners will be drawn at 9 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22, as the fest winds down. Prize amounts are based on 1,000 tickets sold.

Music

Friday, Sept. 20

Dancing Noodles, 6 to 8:45 p.m.
PriSCillas, 9 p.m. to midnight

Saturday, Sept. 21

South City Revival, 2 to 3:45 p.m., 5 to 5:45 p.m.
Wild Daisy, 6 to 8:45 p.m.
Juke Shakers, 9 p.m. to midnight

All are invited to attend a 4 p.m. Vigil Mass.

Sunday, Sept. 22

Shannon Baker, Noon to 2:30 p.m.
Da Good Times, 2:45 to 5:45 p.m.
The Ron Burgundy’s, 5:45 to 9 p.m.