St. Raphael Festival 2014

Photos by Jane Winstead

St. Raphael Festival -- Sunday night

Photos by Jane Winstead

St. Raphael Festival -- Sunday afternoon

Photos by Jane Winstead

St. Raphael Festival -- Saturday night

Photos by Jane Winstead

St. Raphael Festival -- Saturday afternoon

Photos by Jane Winstead 

Here are photos from the St. Raphael Festival.

St. Raphael Festival -- Friday night

Photos by Jane Winstead 

Here are more photos from the St. Raphael Festival on Friday night.

St. Raphael Festival -- Friday afternoon

Photos by Jane Winstead 

The St. Raphael Festival got off to a rousing start Friday night, with throngs of parishioners and visitors coming for food, music and rides. The festival continues through Sunday. 

Luck of the Royals Auction

Photos by Jane Winstead

Royals Cup Golf Tournament and Dinner

Photos by Jane Winstead

Royals Cup Golf Tournament

Photo by Jane Winstead

Calling all Golfers!  Royals Cup Golf Tournament!  Friday, May 11 at the Vinoy Golf Club.  1 p.m. shotgun start. The cost is $120 per person and includes Greg Norman golf shirt, refreshments during registration, and dinner after the tournament in the Parish Center.  Please contact Jenn Taylor at jrtaylor24@gmail.com if you are interested in playing.

Boots, bling and big bucks!

  Photos by Jane Winstead 

St. Raphael parishioners turned out for Boots N Bling Western Fling on Saturday, February 25 in the Parish Center. The St. Raphael Catholic School fundraiser had a western theme, complete with a bucking mechanical bull, which daring would-be cowgirls and cowboys could try their luck at riding at only $10 a buck. Other activities included line dancing and live and silent auctions.

Boots N Bling Western Fling Saturday

Photos by Jane Winstead

Wow! Just look at that amazing collection on gift baskets. One of them could be yours if you sign up for the gift basket raffle that's part of Boots N Bling Western Fling set for Saturday, February 24 in the Parish Center.

Here's what's in those gift baskets:

• The Ultimate Family Movie Night Basket: Family-friendly DVDs, a popcorn maker, candy and more!

• Tennis Anyone?: This basket has ll you need to take your game to the next level, including lessons! Also includes water bottles, tennis balls, sunscreen and lunch for two.

• Beautiful Wine Basket: A fabulous variety for your sipping pleasure.

• Beers of the World Basket: The name says it all.

• Beach Basket: Everything you need for fun in the sun with your family.

Saddle up and join us for the St. Raphael Annual Auction to benefit St. Raphael Catholic School.

The western themed gala event will include bull riding, line dancing, a silent auction and a live auction. Tickets are $55 per person. That includes dinner, beer and wine. A full bar is available with a $15 cost for each endless cup.

Don't forget to sign up for raffle tickets at $50 each for a $2,500 cash prize. Dad's Club tickets are $25 each.

Boots N Bling Western Fling runs 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, February 25 in the St. Raphael Parish Center.

St. Raphael Festival -- Friday 1

Photos by T. Allan Smith

Here are photos from the St. Raphael Festival. Check back for more later.

St. Raphael Festival opens Friday

At last, it's time for the St. Raphael Festival, a three-day, fun-filled extravaganza, with carnival rides for children of all ages, delicious specialty food booths, two themed dinner nights (Oktoberfest and Family Spaghetti Night), live music and Bingo.

Lots of food choices at St. Raphael Festival

Have they taken the FUN out of the FEST?

You may be out of the habit of seeing nuns wearing the traditional black clothing, but for the next few weeks, at least, chances are good that you'll spot the nun in the logo above somewhere around town.

It's all part of the festivities leading up to the newly named St. Raphael Festival (Oct. 21-23), which is really the old Fun Fest, leading some wags to note that they've taken the FUN out of FUN FEST! But really, this festival seems to be shaping up to be as much fun as the previous events, only more so.

You'll want to keep up with the antics of the St. Raphael Festival Nun, so you won't miss out on any of the fun. Expect to see the St. Raphael Festival Nun in the most unexpected places. That's all we're saying for now.

For people who like food but don't care much for fair food, there are some new twists coming. The details will be available soon but here's an early tip: Saturday night and Sunday night will have special themed dinners with great menus that haven't been part of the festival before. Furthermore, there will be new food booths this year, so there will be more choices.

If you love the corn dogs and can't wait to savor all that sugary fried dough, never fear. Traditional fair food will be available, too.

There are other surprises in store as well. This community-wide event is an important fundraiser for St. Raphael Catholic School and it is shaping up to be the most fun-filled St. Raphael Festival ever, regardless of whether FUN is in the name. It'll be anything but FUN in name only.

Okay, enough with the FUN PUNS.

St. Raphael Festival looking for volunteers

You could have a fun-filled weekend in October, meeting parishioners you never knew existed and working hard for a good cause. The annual parish event formerly known as St. Raphael Fun Fest is looking for a few good workers. There are all kinds of jobs available — food preparation, food booths, game booths, sports games, beer and wine booth.

Sign up online at Sign Up Genius. It's easy. Just click on the FIND A SIGN UP tab, enter akacproski@upcic.com, then click on Festival 2011. Pick the date, time and booth. That's all there is to it.

Except for showing up, of course. Please arrive 15 minutes before your shift to check in at the Volunteer Table and receive instruction. And don't forget to check out at the Volunteer Table at the end of your shift.

Then you can stick around to enjoy all the fun and excitement of the St. Raphael Festival, a major fundraiser for St. Raphael Catholic School.

Hot Havana Nights! The slide show

Photos by Jane Winstead

Here are photos from the St. Raphael Catholic School fundraiser, Hot Havana Nights, Friday night at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in downtown St. Petersburg.

Buy your school auction tickets now

Mia Newsom, a student at St. Raphael Catholic School, wanted everyone at 9:30 a.m. Mass Sunday to know that tickets were available for the school's annual auction coming up this Friday. Mia displayed a poster promoting the ticket sale.

The fundraiser, with the theme, Hot Havana Nights, will be at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in downtown St. Petersburg. Tickets are $55 each and include dinner, beer and wine.

There will be a Live Auction and a Silent Auction, with amazing prizes on which to bid.

Among the prizes in the Live Auction: Bid on a three-night getaway to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. You’ll have the use of a six-bedroom, 4.5-bath luxury home less than a block from the Gulf of Mexico. It’s just one of many unusual auction items at Hot Havana Nights. Check the Live Auction page for more details.

After dinner and the auctions, a live DJ will provide music for dancing the night away. Complimentary hand-rolled Cuban cigars will be offered as well. A full liquor cash bar will remain open with all proceeds going to SRCS.

Check the Hot Havana Nights Facebook event page to learn more.

Hot Havana Nights! It's getting close

Get your ticket orders in soon and join the other 190 families, teachers, and staff who are coming out for the St. Raphael Catholic School Annual Auction on Friday, February 25 at the Mirror Lake Lyceum in downtown St. Petersburg.

It will be a night of great food, incredible friends, endless fun, and phenomenal fund raising for our school.

Individual tickets are $55 each and includes dinner and beer and wine. Tickets will be available after 9:30 a.m. And 5:30 p.m. Masses this Sunday and February 20. You also can complete order forms and turn them in to the school office. You can download an order form at the Hot Havana Night Web site.

There will be a Live Auction and a Silent Auction, with amazing prizes on which to bid.

Among the prizes in the Live Auction: Bid on a three-night getaway to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island. You’ll have the use of a six-bedroom, 4.5-bath luxury home less than a block from the Gulf of Mexico. Click on the photo at right to enlarge it.

It’s just one of many unusual auction items at Hot Havana Nights. Check the Live Auction page for more details.

Among other things, the Silent Auction features a beautiful sterling silver beaded chain and pendant with the amazing "Crucifixion" artwork slide.

A full auction catalog will be published on the Hot Havana Nights Web site by next Wednesday. Check for details.

After dinner and the auctions, a live DJ will provide music for dancing the night away. Complimentary hand-rolled Cuban cigars will be offered as well. A full liquor cash bar will remain open with all proceeds going to SRCS.

There are only 11 $50 raffle tickets left. Win and you have your choice of any Live Auction item or $2,500 in cash! You need not be present to win! Only 100 tickets will be sold!

Check the Hot Havana Nights Facebook event page to learn more.