The 45th annual Mount Saint Joseph barbecue picnic takes place Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Motherhouse of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph at Maple Mount, located 12 miles west of Owensboro on Hwy. 56.
The picnic was originally started as a way to help with the cost of the retired sisters, said Dan Heckel, Director of Communications. “It has just grown over time since then and is now our number one fundraiser of the year,” he said.
Booths open at 10:30 a.m.
Award-winning barbecue chicken, mutton and pork is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The barbecue is served with side items. Other food items such as barbecue sandwiches, burgoo, nachos, funnel cakes and ice cream are available.
Estimating crowd attendance is difficult because there are no tickets or entrance fee, but last year they sold over 1,000 dinners. “I’d say we easily had 2,000 – 2,500 last year,” Heckel said.
Grand raffle tickets will be sold in packets of 4 for $20, or $5 each. “We’re hoping we sell the most we’ve ever sold this year,” Heckel said. The goal is 20,000 tickets. Raffle drawings take place at 3 p.m. Prizes include:
- $10,000
- a two-year lease on a Toyota car or $3,500
- $1,000
- a handmade queen-sized quilt
- $500
- Thomas Kinkade cross stitch valued at $500
- $250
- $100
There will also be a silent auction with a wide variety of nice items, and the yard sale and holiday decor booths will be back, which are both very popular.
Other booths feature one-of-a-kind handmade crafts made by the Ursuline Sisters and friends, a cake wheel, bingo, pull tabs, fruit, plants and more.
Children can enjoy an inflatable obstacle course, adopting a (stuffed) animal and other games.
To order raffle tickets or for more information, call 270-229-4103 ext. 284 or ext. 448. To volunteer at the picnic, call 270-229-2006.
To find out more about the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph and the picnic, visit www.ursulinesmsj.org.
