Food will be dynamite at city’s 40th Autumnfest
WOONSOCKET – Visitors to the city’s 40th annual Autumnfest celebration at World War II Veterans Memorial Park this weekend will have plenty to do when they arrive, from stage entertainment and craft booths to the Fanelli Brothers carnival rides and children’s activities.
But almost everyone will pass through Autumnfest’s food court during their day or evening at the premiere local fall festival and Kevin Greenough, food court chair for the Woonsocket Rotary Club, knows they won’t be disappointed when they do.
Greenough, a past Rotary Club president and food concession chair for the Rotary, said 24 food booths are expected on the court this year and will provide the usual mix of local Autumnfest favorites like, Chan’s pork fried rice and boneless ribs, Dynamite and meat pie, traditional midway offerings such as doughboys, cotton candy and candy apples, and even some new arrivals.
“There is a lot of variety this year,” Greenough said. “We have some of the same vendors and there are a few new additions,” he said.
John Chan’s Chan’s Fine Oriental Dining has a freshly painted booth on the food court that mirrors the décor of his family’s longtime business on Main Street. Chan’s has been an Autumnfest
participant since the very first edition of Autumnfest, and its owner noted its booth is one of three remaining from the original list. The other two are the CYO booth and the Broaster House.
“We were also on the original list with the Chowder Bowl Restaurant but they are not with us this year,” Chan said.
The Csizmesia family that operated the Chowder Bowl at Lake Hiawatha in Bellingham, recently sold its Diamond Hill Road catering property, the Traveling
Gourmet, and also closed the Chowder Bowl.
Clairce Csizmesia, wife of the late James Csizmesia and who had grown up working in her family’s Lake Hiawatha business before becoming its chef and owner, passed away in 2013 at the age of 79. She had been actively involved in Autumnfest over the years had been the Autumnfest Parade’s Grand Marshal in 1994, and was an honorary member of the Woonsocket Kiwanis Club.
As for Chan’s, John Chan remains very busy with his restaurant’s regular offerings of top jazz and blues performers at its 267 Main Street location, the same site it has operated from since 1905, but won’t let that make him miss Autumnfest.
“We do this because we love the city, we love Woonsocket, and it’s a great party,” John Chan said. “It’s one way for us to give back to the community and we get to see a lot of old friends and it is a great reunion for everyone,”
he said.
The booth, with its new bright teal, purple and gold colors, will be ready to serve up the expected menu of boneless ribs, chicken teriyaki, crab rangoons, pork fried rice and chow mein and vegetable lo mein, he said.
“It looks like the weather is going to be perfect this year so it is going to be three great days of Autumnfest,” Chan said.
Greenough said the Rotary Club and Autumnfest Steering Committee have taken the forecast for good weather into account and have expanded the footprint of the food court to provide more room for the expected hungry crowd.
“The Rotary Club purchased 10 new picnic tables for the park to complement the ones already in place and there will also be a tent with covered seating for families to get out of the sun,” he said.
On a nice day, Greenough said the park is filled with families who come to share the nice day.
“With the new tables and chairs, families will be able to sit down to eat and look out over the park and all of its activities,” Greenough added.
While losing the Chowder Bowl this year, Greenough said that spot on the court will be taken by Mike Girard’s Mickey G’s Clam Shack offering chowder and clam cakes.
Roland and Christophter Fernandes will be back with their three booth line-up of Chris’ Cuisine, Rolanaski’s polish menu, and the Broaster House, and the Blooming Onion is there too.
Just Dogs is back and this year Boy Scout Troop 2, Woonsocket, will be running the pizza booth operated by the Autumnfest Steering Committee in the past.
The Father Roger Marot CYO Center is offering up its traditional french fries, curly fries, and chili cheese fries, and St. Agatha’s Parish is the Dynamite maker and spot to get coffee and hot chocolate.
The Lion’s Club will be selling doughboys and apple cider, the Rotary Club the soda booth with the help of participating organizations, and the former Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and now Holy Trinity Parish-- the cotton candy and candy apple concession.
Missy’s Family Restaurant on Brook Street will be serving up French meat pie by the slice and grilled cheese and fish sandwiches at its booth, and the Krakow Deli is making crepes this year.
Bugg’d Out Barbecue is offering a variety of pulled pork and barbecue sandwiches and dishes cooked on the court.
Taco Don Nacho is making tacos, burritos and quesadillas, AJ’s Catering sausage and peppers sandwiches, and Gyro, gyros and pitas.
Route 66 is the vendor for steak and chicken wraps and there will also be ice cream from the Ice Cream Machine and Del’s Lemonade frozen drinks.
New additions will be Parma Ristorante, with Italian offerings like Penna al Vodka, and Nessa Snack Shack with Popsicles and Italian ice, Greenough noted.
Take your pick and settled back to enjoy the food this year for what everyone hopes will be a perfect Autumnfest.
“I think one of the best things about it for me was the collaboration that took place between the Steering Committee, the Rotary Club and the City of Woonsocket, Greenough said.
“It was a team effort to get the park ready get everything set up and I think that is going to make the 40th edition of Autumnfest a huge success,” he said.
For more information on this year’s Autumnfest, visit www.autumnfest.org.