A Lawn Fete is a cultural phenomenom which occurs every summer around Buffalo, New York at various Roman Catholic Churches. Fete actually means festival in Latin, but the title of 'Lawn Fete' is reserved for a special brand of festival. The popularity of these festivals is obviously connected to the working/middle class families of Irish, Italian, and Polish descent who in a large majority reside in Buffalo.

I'm unsure of its prevalence around the country, but numerous people I've met from not far off places, like Lockport or Syracuse for example had no idea what a lawn fete was. I cannot find any real information about lawn fetes online. I will try to piece together some information concerning this social gathering many Western New Yorkers have come to love.

Lawn Fetes typically have an array of things to do. You can fill up on a plate of ethnically inspired food, have a really big, awkward plastic cup of beer, win a basket full of romance novels in a theme tray auction, play poker or other various games of chance, and dance a polka for under $20. You will almost always run into people you haven't seen for extended periods of time. And the best part is, that it benefits some really nice churches in our area.

What to expect:

Food- Fast food, sometimes Italian or Polish Sausage depending on the church. Some churches also hold dinners in their respective cafeteria where they'll serve something of better quality.

Beer- Usually a Canadian import and a domestic light beer.

Gambling-

Music-

For the kids-

2008 Fetes:

20, 21, 22 June -Our Lady of Czestochowa, Cheektowaga, NY
21, 22 June -St. Vincent De Paul, 2050 Southcreek Road, Evans, NY. 627-3382.
21, 22 June -Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3148 Abbott Road, Orchard Park, NY. 824-2935.
27, 28, 29 June -St. Andrew's, 34 Francis St, Sloan. 892-0425.

11, 12, 13 July -Queen of Heaven, 4220 Seneca St., West Seneca. 674-3468
24, 25, 26, 27 July -St. John Vianney Church, 2950 Southwestern Blvd, Orchard Park. 674-9133.
25, 26, 27 July -Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, 20 French Road, Depew. 685-2544

15, 16, 17 August -St. Leo the Great Church, 885 Sweet Home Road, Amherst. 835-8905.
22, 23, 24 August -St. Barnabas Lawn Fete, 2049 George Urban Blvd., Depew. 685-2350.
(Usually mid August) -St. Bernard's, Clinton St., Buffalo.

Other Festivals:
July -Polish Arts Festival, Cheektowaga Town Park. Harlem Road, Cheektowaga.
23, 24 August -Polish Harvest Festival. Corpus Christi, 199 Clark St., Buffalo. 896-1050.