Church's Trifesta to feature top Gospel musicians

Take a festival, multiply it by three, and the result is a Trifesta - just like the one St. Isidore Catholic Church is hosting this weekend.

The Bloomingdale church's Block Party in the 'Burbs, also called a Trifesta, kicks off Friday and continues through Saturday.

The event features a 5K run, golf, three-on-three basketball and musical entertainment, including a Battle of the Bands and Gospelfest. There's also rides, games, kids activities, bingo and a hefty selection of food and beverages.

And at 5 p.m. Saturday, an outdoor Mass will be celebrated on the main stage.

Organizers are saying the festival's entertainment lineup is bigger and better this time around.

"This year was a huge step in the growth process that we've had because we're reaching out to so many different age groups and ethnic groups," said Michael Hatt, the church's communications director. "It really is a community festival for everyone."

Additional rides, arcade games, a Ferris wheel and carousel should appeal to kids and teens.

For adults, the Common Ground Gospelfest starts at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. It will feature Couples for Christ Band, Christian singer Jeorge Rivera, the Sacred Heart Gospel Choir and John Angotti, who recently performed for Pope Benedict XVI when he visited the United States.

"The addition of Gospelfest is really a great event to add this year because of the interest in the performers and bands that will be taking part on the main stage," Hatt said.

Proceeds from the Trifesta will benefit St. Isidore's Education Endowment Fund.

For details or to register for the athletic activities, call (630) 529-3045 or visit www.stisidoreparish.org.

If you go

What: St. Isidore Catholic Church's Trifesta

When: 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday

Where: St. Isidore Catholic Church, 427 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale

Cost: 5K race is $15 advance registration, $20 Saturday; basketball tournament is $120 per team.

Info: www.stisidoreparish.org or (630) 529-3045

FRIDAY

3 p.m. Trifesta begins

3 p.m. Circus tent

5:30 p.m. Battle of the Bands

6 p.m. P & G Speedway's great Micro Reality Stock Car Racing

6 p.m. Street Jamz

7:45 p.m. Rhythm Rockets

9:30 p.m. Denny Diamond

11 p.m. Trifesta closes

SATURDAY

7:30 a.m. The Race to Grace, a 5K run/walk

8:30 a.m. Cassidy Tire Golf Outing at St. Andrews Golf and Country Club in West Chicago

9 a.m. Cyclones 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

12 p.m. Rides and games begin

1:30 p.m. Gospelfest begins with the Couples for Christ Band

2 p.m. Bingo

2:30 p.m. Christian singer Jorge Rivera

2:30 p.m. Food and beverage vendors open

3:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Gospel Choir

4:30 p.m. John Angotti

5 p.m. Outdoor Mass

7:15 p.m. Rico

9:15 p.m. Eleventh Hour