Holy Rosary Block Party Brings Activities, Food and Fellowship to Detroit Lakes – Detroit Lakes Tribune

DETROIT LAKES — Holy Rosary Catholic Church held a block party Sept. 10 full of food, baked goods and activities for kids on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes.

The annual event, formerly known as the Parish Festival, featured chili cooking, a cake walk, music, bingo and a myriad of activity stations for kids.

The chili cook-off, the first event of its kind at the block party, had eight different entrees with local chefs sampling their own recipes against each other for bragging rights. John Wilke, one of the contest organizers, said he brought three different batches of chili because he wasn’t sure how many entries the contest would receive.

Patty Wilke, left, serves a sample cup of chili while cooking chili as part of the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

Michael Achterling / Detroit Lakes Tribune

IMG_0595 (2).JPG — Jen Wilke, right, serves a sample cup of chili while cooking chili as part of the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

“I wanted to make sure we had enough to serve, and I still like to cook,” Wilke said.

His third course, he said, was an ode to “vertigo”.

“It’s sweet, spicy and smoky,” he said. “There’s smoked paprika in it, there’s a little more Serrano peppers, there’s a little more chili, there’s brown sugar for the sweet part…and I tasted it at home , before leaving it sat for 36 hours, to release the flavors, and when I tasted it at home it was soft at the start and at the very end there was just a bit of a burn. pleasant.

IMG_0520 (2).JPG — A child pulls a candy pouch off the wall during the Children’s Fishing Exhibit during the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

IMG_0668 (2).JPG — A child plays ring toss during the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

IMG_0629 (2).JPG — Event attendees play bingo during the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

IMG_0657 (2).JPG — Event attendees play bingo during the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

He also said he was impressed with the turnout for the event’s first year and hopes 20 different cooks will attend next year’s block party.

“It’s not really about fundraising, it’s about fellowship and community, and giving people an excuse to get together and have fun with the whole family,” Wilke said.

The parish church festival was usually held on a Sunday in the church parking lot, but, due to declining attendance over the years, the event was moved to the street and a Saturday so that more people members of the community can attend.

IMG_0404 (2).JPG — Marcus Flugel, 7, of Detroit Lakes smiles with his dinosaur cake he won during the cake walk as part of the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10, 2022.

IMG_0436 (2).JPG — Kenly Engum, 11, of Detroit Lakes, smiles with her gluten-free popcorn cake she won during the Cake Walk, part of the Holy Rosary Block Party on Lake Avenue in Detroit Lakes on September 10 2022.

Another highlight of the event was over a dozen homemade cakes to be won during the event cake walk, a very popular event with the children in attendance.

The church also asked parishioners to donate their pastries to help raise funds for the Holy Rosary and their community fund. Ten percent of proceeds raised from the bake sale will be donated to the church’s community fund to benefit Detroit Lakes.

“Our role today is easy, it’s the people at home, our parishioners, who baked and baked at home and brought their products and all we have to do is brand them and sell them,” said Denise Kettner, a bake sale volunteer. .