Annual Fall Picnic | About | St. Meinrad Parish

The St. Meinrad Parish Fall Picnic will be a special celebration this year. We are celebrating the 25^th year of our parish picnic that was brought back after many years of not having a picnic. This year’s picnic will be Sunday, September 20, 2026, on the church grounds, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central Time on the church grounds. 

Sponsors making a gift at the Patron Level or above will be recognized for their support in print and social media promotion, as well as the placards on picnic day. Friend and Investor Levels will also be recognized on the placards along with the picnic honor roll honorees (+In Memory and In Honor) with a complete listing of picnic sponsors located in the parish church and throughout the parish grounds on picnic day and on the website. 
 
2026 Fall Picnic Activities: Boy Scout Troop 102 will open the event at 9:45 a.m. with the presentation of colors and honor guard, followed by an opening prayer by Father Paul Nord, OSB, and a moment of silence to remember those listed on the picnic honor roll.
 
Parishioners, friends, and neighbors are invited to enjoy entertainment throughout the day, including live music at the outdoor dining pavilion, weather permitting. Fried chicken dinners, famous soup (by the bowl or gallon), ice cream (hand-dipped cones and sundaes) from Sweet P's Frostbite, and a food court with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and German tenderloin sandwiches, along with German potato salad and nachos and cheese, will be available for dine-in and carryout while supplies last.
 
The country store will feature crafts from local artisans and baked goods, including whole pies and cakes, individual slices of pie, preserves, jams, and canned items.

The Theme Basket stand has been a huge success over the past years due to our parishioners’ expertise at creating and donating baskets filled with all kinds of items: camping items, potted mums, children’s games, sunglasses, tools, gardening items, etc. 

Raffle tickets will be available throughout the day. Cash raffle tickets are $5 each, with prizes totaling $5,000. Quilt raffle tickets for $2 each will also be available to win one of two handmade quilts. A half-pot drawing will also be held, at $1 a ticket.
 
Entertainment: The Fall Picnic includes a Family Activity Center throughout the day with games and activities for all ages, an appearance from Dr. Popper, a talented clown from Dr. Popper Entertainment of Owensboro, KY, and live music by The Gatwood Family.
 
Pre-Orders: Patrons may pre-order St. Meinrad's Famous Soup by the gallon through September 8. The cost is $20 a gallon, and the parish provides complimentary gallon jugs. Bulk soup will be available for pickup after 10:30 a.m. on picnic day. To preorder your soup online, visit this link.
 
All pre-order forms must be received or postmarked by September 8, 2026. These forms can be sent to the Parish Office, PO Box 8, Saint Meinrad, IN 47577-0008, or dropped by the Parish Office during regular office hours at 19630 N. 4th Street, Saint Meinrad, IN.
 
The entrance to the Parish Office is located on Brewery Street, on the north side of the building. The convenient, accessible area is located in the carport, equipped with an after-hours drop box located at entrance, below the window of the door.
 
Church Tour: Tour of the church will be offered at 11 a.m. by Father Paul Nord, OSB. More details about the church’s artwork are available at smcatholic.church/history-st-meinrad/. Also, take a virtual tour of the parish cemetery to locate and view specific burial sites, photos of the headstones, and an aerial map of the cemetery at smcatholic.church/1861.
 
Shuttle Service and Handicap Parking: Shuttle service will be available at all parking locations. Patrons wishing to enter the parish grounds at a location with level ground can use the designated drop-off and pickup area, with courtesy benches available for patrons to safely wait while their driver is parking or make use of the shuttle service meeting their driver on the picnic grounds. The drop-off point will be available at the entrance of N. 4th Street and Brewery Street for our guests’ convenience.

Parking: Parking is available on the parish grounds, with overflow parking at the east lawn. 

Raffle Drawings: The celebration will conclude with raffle drawings at 1:30 p.m. 
Become a fall picnic sponsor today by using the Quick Links above.
 
Through your generosity, our parish family continues its legacy and living faith, rooted in Spencer County, Indiana, since its founding in 1861. The parish church is open daily from dawn to dusk. For information about upcoming events, visit www.smcatholic.church/news.