OLEAN — The annual BasilicaFEST — with activities set at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels on West Henley Street and Gargoyle Park — gets underway on Friday.

The blessing for 2025’s festival is set for 4 p.m., while other Friday highlights are “Oldies but Goodies” with the classic car show (5 to 7 p.m.) and music by The Generations (5 to 7 p.m.) and The Cruisers (7:30 to 10 p.m.) while sipping on root beer floats.

BasilicaFest will honor Flag Day on Saturday with the raising of the flag at noon, while there will be a reptile show for the kids 1 to 2 p.m.

Music set for Saturday at the bandstand includes the Sticktights 2 to 4 p.m., Muddy Rivers Blues Band 5 to 7 p.m. and Vinny and the Mudflaps 7:30 to 10 p.m. Sound will be provided over the three days by S&B Sound and Production.

A 5K run/walk is set to begin at Gargoyle Park at 10 a.m. 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.

Pony rides are also set at Gargoyle Park Saturday, 9 to 10:30 a.m.

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

The OCTaves Jazz Band will perform 1 to 2:30 p.m.

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.

On 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, with bagpipers, at noon.

Inside the basilica, visitors can 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.