Baptist church festival set for Saturday


Tables of baked goods — despite new attractions at Central Baptist Church’s annual June festival — will return Saturday to the delight of sweet-toothed shoppers.

Tables of baked goods — despite new attractions at Central Baptist Church’s annual June festival — will return Saturday to the delight of sweet-toothed shoppers.

Because traditions can become stale, parishioners at Central Baptist Church are making efforts to ensure that doesn’t happen at 99 Narragansett Ave.

Live music, lobster rolls and fine artwork have been added to the festival that has welcomed the arrival of summer for nearly 40 years at the parish. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, these attractions will be combined with the usual customs, including strawberry shortcake, clam chowder and the white elephant sale.

Beginning at noon, Matt and Judy Bolles, a married duo from Cole Street, will provide a bluegrass backdrop for shoppers browsing the flea market.

“They’re going to walk around and serenade the crowd,” organizer Jill Dolce said.

Vendors also will include painter Anne Winthrop Cordin, ceramicist Miquette Bishop and potter Diana Kareta. Deb Black, a glass artist, will offer wine bottles that have been repurposed as outdoor lights, and show tunes from keyboardist Water Sage will follow the Bolleses.

The festival also will include a silent auction and raffles. For lunch, the Page family will man the grill with hot dogs and hamburgers for guests who aren’t enticed by the seafood menu. Cake, cookies, pasties and pies baked by the congregation will be available to satisfy the sweet tooth. As always, the food is the focal point at the festival.

“We have lots of great food and lobster rolls are new this year,” organizer Tammy Fasano said. “That should be a big hit along with the music.”

At Central Baptist, the sign in front of the church boasts “Open doors, open minds, open hearts.” Since his arrival in 2015, the Rev. Kurt Satherlie has embraced this American Baptist tradition of religious acceptance, which was taught by Rhode Island founder Roger Williams.

The local congregation has nearly 30 belief systems involved with the church, from Jewish to Episcopalian to Buddhist, which makes the June festival an inviting event for the entire community.

“It’s always a great time,” Dolce said.