LIMA, OH (WLIO) - For many in Lima, it's not summer until they've been to the St. Gerard Parish Festival.
All weekend, families from around Lima and beyond are flocking to St. Gerard to enjoy fair food, rides, carnival and betting games, live music, and, of course, their famous wings. Over 5,000 bone-in wings were prepared, and volunteers say people are willing to wait in line for as long as 45 minutes to an hour just to get them.
Kids especially love the festival and have no shortage of fun activities to choose from, like the games for younger children in the Kids Tent.
"We have basketball, we have face paint, we have the sucker pull, we have the ring toss, we have a ball toss, we have a fish pond, a duck pond, and a squirter," said 9-year-old Kids Tent volunteer Skylar Mays. "My favorite part is helping out and seeing all the cute kids," added 7-year-old volunteer Abby Mays.
The annual tradition is more than just a fun weekend. It's about the community and St. Gerard both giving back to each other.
"It helps raise funds for us, but mainly we just get the community out. We always said the start of summer was always St. Gerard's. It's a great time for families, a good time to see friends; people always come from all over," said Jason Davis, a co-chair of the festival.
The St. Gerard Parish Festival wraps up on Sunday, running from noon to 9 p.m.
