67-year Catholic festival canceled due to COVID-19; raffle still on

The St. Helen Spring Festival has been canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Riverside annual spring event has drawn thousands each June for more than 60 years, attracting residents of Dayton, Beavercreek and other communities.

But this year’s event set for June 5-7 will not go forward due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s festival,” according to its website. “Our prayers are with all of those affected by the crisis as well as our health care and essential workers.”

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The festival off Burkhardt Road is Catholic church and school’s major annual fundraiser. Organizers said the event’s raffle is still being held.

“While we have had to cancel the 2020 festival … the mission of the parish and school continue. We recognize the financial hardships many are facing right now. If you are financially able, please consider supporting us by buying a ticket for our annual festival raffle.”

A $10,000 grand raffle drawing will be held at 8 p.m. June 7. Two $1,000 prizes also will be awarded.

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For more information, visit the parish's festival website.

St Helen Parish, established in 1953, is a Roman Catholic parish of 1,300 families in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

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