It’s summer in Cincinnati, and that means it’s church festival season. Seniors living in Cincinnati know they can look forward to a bevy of fun celebrations, held in a variety of parishes, every summer and into the fall.

The history of Cincinnati’s church festivals

Parish church festivals are a bit of a cultural phenomenon here in the Tristate — especially on (but not limited to) the heavily Catholic West Side.

Successive, massive influxes of immigrants from Bavaria and other south German states, Ireland and Italy occurred in the 19th century. As Cincinnati was a western boom town during those migrations, many of those immigrants chose to settle here.

When they did, they established their own parishes. They served not only as institutions of worship, but also as centers of community where people could associate with their compatriots, speak their mother tongues without fear of discrimination or reprisal and keep strong the cultural traditions they brought with them from their various homelands.

Just in the tiny Mount Adams neighborhood, for example, there were at one time two separate Catholic churches: the Church of the Immaculata for the German community and Holy Cross parish for the Irish community.

On the West Side, downtown, and across the Ohio River in Newport and Covington, similar circumstances developed.

Today, many of these parishes have been consolidated. But there are still a lot left. There have also been influxes of other cultures: Greek, Mexican, Central American and more, that have influenced the church festival scene. And many local parishes still hold a festival on, or near, their patron saint’s day.

The best part?

Everyone is welcome! You don’t have to be Catholic to enjoy the fun. With that in mind, here’s a look at eight of the best-known Tristate church festivals for fun-loving seniors to visit:

St. Thomas More JulyFest

Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10

St. Thomas More Catholic Church

800 Ohio Pike

Cincinnati, OH 45245 (Withamsville)

Bring canned food donations for St. Vincent DePaul and receive tickets for $500 drawing! Friday night dance party with Carlie Short and the Rotgut Ramblers, supported by Wind. Saturday country music jam. Sunday live blues and jazz. Multiple raffles, casino games and rides for the kids.

Beer garden access, featuring Harmony Hill Vineyards wines and beer, with proper ID. Sunday chicken dinner. Click here for map to St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

St. Lawrence Festival

Saturday, July 9 – Sunday, July 10

St. Lawrence Church

3680 Warsaw Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45205 (Price Hill)

Live music, including performances by GenX, Saffire Express and the Elder Glee Club. Blackjack and card games. Chicken dinner 5 – 7 p.m. both days. Beer is available with proper ID.

For driving directions, click here.

St. Gabriel Summerfest 2016

Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10

St. Gabriel Church

48 W. Sharon Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45246 (Glendale)

Games, live music and entertainment, beer and wine available with ID and wristband. Friday is Family Night. Pig roast on Sunday.

St. Leo the Great Latinfest

Saturday, July 9

St. Leo the Great Church

2573 St. Leo Place (corner of Baltimore Avenue)

Cincinnati, OH 45225 (Fairmount)

Variety of Guatemalan, Mexican, Salvadorean and Colombian foods available. Latin music. Mass celebrated at 4 p.m. Note: No alcohol or gaming is available at this festival.

Holy Family Incline District Street Fair

Saturday, July 9

Saturday, Aug 13

Saturday, Sept. 10

Holy Family Church

3001 Price Ave.

Cincinnati OH 45205 (Price Hill)

This festival runs one Saturday each month between July and September. Enjoy local food, craft beer, and artisan vendors. Free admission.

Sacred Heart Festival

Friday, Aug. 12 – Sunday, Aug. 14

Sacred Heart Church

400 Nilles Road

Fairfield, OH 45014

Friday fish fry. Saturday pulled pork and rib dinner. Festival games and favorites throughout the weekend. Beer, frozen daiquiris and margaritas available with proper ID.

For map to the event, click here.

St. Mary Family Funfest

Friday, August 19 – Sunday, Aug. 21

St. Mary Church

2853 Erie Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45208 (Hyde Park)

Festival food, music, games. Free admission.

Rocktoberfest 

Friday, Sept. 9 – Sunday, Sept. 11

St. Barbara Church

4042 Turkeyfoot Road

Erlanger, KY 41018

Live music from “24/7” and other acts, food, rides and games. Free admission.