St. Catherine’s Adds ‘Diverse Needs’ Event To Parish Carnival

OAK LAWN, IL -- St. Catherine of Alexandria and North American Midway Entertainment will be celebrating individuals with diverse needs at the Oak Lawn parish’s 36th annual Carnival. Wristbands will be offered for any individual classified with a diverse need and a buddy rider, free of charge. The wristbands will be available for use on rides from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 7, before the carnival opens to the general public.

This is a one-time only, judgement free event. No documentation or special ID is required to take advantage of this opportunity for children and adults with diverse needs to experience St. Catherine of Alexandria’s carnival before it fills up with people. Food booths will be open this time where individuals with diverse needs and their buddies can purchase dinner. The Alexandria Center will also be open for kiddie games and face painting for a small fee.

“This has been in the works for a couple of years,” said parishioner Kelly Withers, a special education teacher at Richards High School. “A lot of children who go to St. Catherine’s have siblings with special needs. The carnival committee wanted to lead by example by giving back.”

The carnival committee has reached out to various organizations serving adults and children with special needs, including Park Lawn, Sertoma, Garden Center and Oak Lawn Park District Special Recreation Program. If needed, plenty of eager seventh and eighth graders from St. Catherine’s will be available as buddy riders.

St. Catherine’s annual carnival is one of the South Side’s best and has opened the parish carnival season for the past 36 years. The carnival features rides, games, raffles, bingo, food, a beer garden and music for five fabulous days from June 6 to June 10 at 106th Street and Kedvale (10621 S. Kedvale Ave.) in Oak Lawn. Keep up with St. Catherine of Alexandria Carnival happenings on Facebook.