For more than six decades, the parishioners of St. Gerald Church have transformed the corner of Southwest Highway and Central Avenue into a carnival ground for one summer weekend.
This year’s St. Gerald Fest at 9310 S. 55th Court, Oak Lawn, carried on that tradition for four days of live music, big rides, raffles and enough funnel cake to powder the sidewalks.
“We happened to be just driving by and decided to stop and I’m so glad we did,” Crystal Melgoza, of Oak Lawn, who attended with her three daughters, said.
Presented by the parish’s Holy Name Society, the fest blended parish pride with small-town spectacle. Dyer, Indiana-based Modern Midways rolled in towering attractions including the 100-foot Vertigo swing, the Hangover, Tornado and Zero Gravity, alongside kid favorites like the Tea Cups and Puppy Roll.
Food trucks, with favorites ranging from Dukes Italian Beef and Los Friends Tacos, fed the crowds between bingo games and prize raffles. The parish school benefited from the proceeds, just as it has since the carnival’s earliest days.
Each day brought a different soundtrack to the beer garden.
Thursday opened with the Cajun and zydeco grooves of Hurricane Gumbo. Friday kept the crowd dancing to My 80’s Band. Saturday offered a double bill with The Prissila’s in the afternoon and Whiskey Road closing out the night. Sunday wrapped the weekend with Hoodwink’d and The Walk-Ins, a finale that had festivalgoers singing along under the lights.
St. Gerald Fest began more than 65 years ago as a modest parish fundraiser.
Over time, it grew into a community staple, drawing generations of families who return each summer for the rides, the games and the music. This year’s edition proved that even as Oak Lawn changes, the carnival’s pull , which remains equal parts faith, food and fun, remains strong.
