IMPORTANT ANOUNCEMENT REGARDING SEPTEMBERFEST 2025

You may recall that in late April a Flocknote message was sent out with the disconcerting subject, “SeptemberFest in Jeopardy!” Many positive things have happened as a result of that message including surfacing a festival chair and co -chair and further galvanizing a festival committee made of up those with a collective history of involvement and passion for the festival, who have been meeting, discussing creative ideas and discerning a viable path forward to make our beloved festival more sustainable into the future.

There have been a series of festival committee meetings, lots of exploratory work and ongoing discussions with Don Traczyk, a parishioner who generously stepped forward to chair the event. We have concluded that without a path to have the kind of event that you as parishioners and our neighbors deserve, we need to cancel the festival this year. I share their thoughtful words:

Due to delays in city permitting and securing enough volunteers, SeptemberFest is cancelled for 2025. Originally slated to happen on Saturday, September 13, SeptemberFest has become a decades-long tradition in Northeast Minneapolis— bringing families, food, fun and the Northeast community together at Holy Cross Church. Challenges have made it impossible to move forward with a fully volunteer-led event this year.

Much gratitude is extended to the businesses, volunteers, and attendees who have supported SeptemberFest throughout the years. We are hoping to have a parish fall festival this coming year and are confident that the 2026 festival can come back stronger than ever.

Those interested in helping bring SeptemberFest back in 2026 are encouraged to get involved—whether by joining as a volunteer or supporting as a sponsor. Please contact the office at 612-930-0860 if you are interested in helping. Early in 2026, we will start planning next year’s festival to ensure a successful event.

I commend Don and the festival committee and booth leaders for their hard work and dedication as well as their courage to help make this decision which I fully support and appreciate given the circumstances.

Although SeptemberFest is our single largest fundraising endeavor of the year, when we set out the budget for the current fiscal year, uncertain of the scope of what would be able to be organized this fall, we projected a very conservative goal that can be met in other creative ways throughout the current year. While I am certainly disappointed not to be able to host such an important neighborhood gathering to celebrate our great parish, this year’s pause will allow us to regroup and prepare well for next fall.

While we won’t be able to host a festival, I do want to invite you to celebrate our parish feast day, the Exaltation of the Cross. With the full support of the Pastoral Council, the Polish Community and numerous parishioners, a plan has come together for a modest but festive Sunday celebration. The celebration will take place in the courtyard just outside Holy Cross Church from 10:30 am-2:00 pm on Sunday, September 14th. If weather doesn’t cooperate, we will be in Kolbe Hall. The menu will be grilled Polish sausage, hot dogs, other snacks and fresh paczki (Polish sugar donuts) and ice cream treats. The day will include live music and a chance to socialize with those from across our campuses as well as some fun activities for kids. The event itself will not be a fundraiser, but rather a celebration of our parish and an appreciation of you, our beloved parishioners. For ease of parking and celebration, you are warmly invited to the 9:30 am English Mass or the 11:30 am Polish Mass that morning.

Please mark your calendars and plan to come celebrate!

~Fr. Howe