Friday, October 16, 2026
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is bringing back food made by local restaurants and the Knights of Columbus to its annual bazaar this Friday through Sunday at the church. The Malverne parish expects crowds throughout the weekend.
The bazaar has been hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes for over 10 years, and its organizers decided to serve food again after not doing so last year. There will be a different dish each night, with chili from the Brick Cafe on Friday, hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by Knights of Columbus members on Saturday, and spaghetti and meatballs from various local vendors on Sunday. All proceeds from food purchases will benefit the church.
Elizabeth Krull, the chair of the bazaar, said the decision came after attendees spoke up about not having the food last year.
“We realized that people really missed the home-cooked or donated food,” Krull said. Though she is also president of the Malverne Chamber of Commerce, the chamber is not involved in organizing the bazaar.
The event will also feature live music, and carnival rides provided by amusement ride supplier Newton Shows. Tickets are now on sale, with a link available on the church’s website and on the event flier, and will also be available at the event itself. The proceeds of ticket sales will be split between Newton and the church.
The bazaar will take place Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 3 to 10 and Sunday from 1 to 6. Organizers expect 200 to 500 attendees on Friday and Saturday.
Jennifer Prizzi, the church’s business manager, said she was looking forward to seeing the event come together. “Seeing everybody come together and happy,” Prizzi said, “the kids enjoying the rides, your friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners eating and drinking together, listening to the live music together — it’s just the moment when you realize that it’s something bigger than all of us.”
This year the bazaar will be part of the parish’s 100th-anniversary celebration. Though most of the detailed planning began in August, organizers started meeting soon after last year’s event, and continued brainstorming this spring.
According to Krull, several church committees work together to make the event possible. “We appreciate that support,” she said, “it’s important to give a shout-out to [all the] parish bazaar committees that made this happen on their own time.”
The parish also approaches churchgoers and students at Our Lady of Lourdes School to volunteer, usually in two-hour shifts, to man concession stands and ticket booths.
The event is an important fundraiser for the church, and is also big for local vendors like John Anthony’s of Valley Stream, Antonio’s Deli, Regina’s Pizzeria and others.
The church’s pastor, the Rev. Jim Stachacz, sees the bazaar as both a significant fundraiser and an important community event. “It’s good for people,” he said. “Not just from the parish, but from all of Malverne and surrounding areas to come and meet. It helps me to reconnect [with people], to rebuild and to really talk about the parish with people and our faith.”
Though organizers are unsure of what rides are coming from Newton this year, Stachacz hopes they bring back one in particular. “I get to ride the Pharaoh,” he said, “which is this huge pirate ship that all the kids love to ride.”
