OLEAN — Setup for the BasilicaFEST 2025 is underway, and the community is invited to gather together for the annual event this weekend, Friday through Sunday.

Fun activities will include a chicken barbecue, disc golf tournament, 5K run/walk, theme basket raffle, games, classic car show and live entertainment.

Some of the highlights are “Oldies but Goodies” on Friday with the classic car show and music by The Generations and the Cruisers while sipping on root beer floats.

Entertainment is planned throughout the weekend at BasilicaFEST .

BasilicaFest will honor Flag Day on Saturday with the raising of the flag, while there will be a reptile show for the kids.

“Saturday morning there will be the 5K run/walk at Gargoyle Park,” stated co-chair Jennifer Forney.

Additional activities at Gargoyle will include pony rides from 9 to 10:30 a.m., a disc golf tournament beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a Munchkin run for children at about 10:45 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the Gargoyle Park events or go to EMCatholic.org.

Celebrate Father’s Day with a $5 breakfast offered by the Knights of Columbus starting at 9 a.m., followed by an Ancient Ordder of Hibernians chicken barbecue at noon back at the festival church grounds.

Top entertainment for the bandstand will cover three days of music including The Generations, The Cruisers, Sticktights, Muddy Rivers Blues Band, Vinny and the Mudflaps and OCTaves Jazz Band. Sound will be provided over the three days by S&B Sound and Production.

Pony rides at Gargoyle Park are again part of the fun at BasilicaFEST on Saturday.

Throughout the festival there will be many favorite food items, drinks and activities from the past. Unique dessert selections include homemade pie served on the rectory’s Victorian wrap-around porch, dessert table and St. Timothy’s Catholic Coffee.

Basilica Tours will be available Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. The third edition of the Basilica’s history book will be available for purchase at the hospitality table.

Saturday Mass is at 4 p.m. and Sunday morning Masses are at 8 and 11 a.m. in the Basilica, followed by the annual Corpus Christi procession at noon.

Inside the Basilica, festival visitors will have an opportunity to view an international exhibit: Miracles of the Eucharist, open during the three days. This unique exhibit was created by a young teen soon to be canonized, Blessed Carlo Acutis.

BasilicaFEST concludes Sunday at 3 p.m. with the drawing for the cash raffle that includes a chance to win $10,000 for one lucky winner and with $15,000 total cash prizes in the drawing. Organizers said the this staple continues to be an opportunity to take a chance on winning cash prizes while supporting the parish financially.

All proceeds from BasilicaFEST go towards maintenance and upkeep of the historic basilica built in 1915.

BasilicaFEST hours:

• Friday at the basilica property, 4 to 10 p.m.
• Saturday at Gargoyle Park, 8 to 11 a.m.
• Saturday at the basilica property, noon to 10 p.m.
• Sunday at the basilica, noon to 3 p.m.

For more information and detailed schedule of events go to EMCatholic.org.