WALLINGFORD — Residents enjoyed a variety of food, games, and rides during the opening of the 53rd annual Most Holy Trinity Bazaar festival Tuesday.
The event, organized by Most Holy Trinity Church, takes place at 84 North Colony St. from 6-10 p.m. through Friday and from 2-10 p.m. on Saturday. For $25, wristbands can be purchased on site which includes unlimited access to the amusement rides. On Saturday from 2-6 p.m., wristbands will be available for $22.
Bob Cassello, chairman of the Bazaar committee, has been part of the committee since the beginning of the festival.
“At first it was just a small barbecue and church members would get together,” he said. “Now it’s much bigger and we start planning for the festival in January.”
According to Cassello, each member of the committee is in charge of something different.
“We have people in charge of foods and making sure there is a variety of options. We have Mexican, Puerto Rican, and American food. We got a little bit on everything,” he said.
Foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, empanadillas, fried dough, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream and elote, or Mexican street corn, are available.
On Friday and Saturday, the Spanish food tent will serve chicken, rice, beans, and potatoes.
Sara Robles, parishioner, has been helping out at the Spanish booth for over 40 years. She and church member Cesar Ruiz buy the ingredients and prepare the food for the festival.
“I really enjoy helping out and seeing how much the community has grown,’ Ruiz said.
Evelyn Robles-Rivas, supervisor of language and community partnerships for the Meriden Public Schools and a parishioner of the church, was volunteering at the event serving Spanish food.
“I think this is a great and beautiful event,” she said. “It brings our Spanish and English community together. Everyone looks forward to this.”
Lili Garcia, volunteer, said that it has been amazing seeing friends supporting the event. She also teaches faith formation classes at Most Holy Trinity and says that it’s been great to see her students enjoy the festival.
According to the Rev. Andres Mendoza Floyd, the festival is a fun community-building event.
“It brings that parish and our Wallingford community together,” Mendoza said.
Silvia Rea, Wallingford resident, has been coming to the bazaar for the past 10 years. She attended this year’s event with her daughter, mother, and friends.
“We love it,” she said. “It’s a great way to start off the summer.”
A vigil will be held to commemorate past and current bazaar committee members and workers on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
celescano@record-journal.com