‘Festival of Joy’ marks fourth year
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Brandon’s St. Augustine Catholic Church hosted its fourth annual Festival of Joy on Saturday, drawing what organizers expected to be more than 1,000 people to the parish grounds for a day of faith, food and community activities.
The event coincided with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope, making this year’s edition a special milestone, parish priest John Okosun told the Sun at the event.
“The Festival of Joy is an event that brings people together from all walks of life and all age groups,” he said. “It’s an occasion that focuses on the positive, because sometimes people are weighed down by the negative. We want people to remember the good things happening to them so they can continue to spread joy.”
Children play a tug of war contest during the St. Augustine Catholic Church Brandon’s annual Festival of Joy on Saturday afternoon at the parish grounds. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
Launched in 2020, the festival has grown steadily in attendance. Last year, more than 700 people took part, and this year’s Jubilee tie-in was expected to push numbers past the 1,000 mark.
The event featured a wide-ranging program, including soccer tournaments for children and adults, races, games, bingo, Bible games, cultural displays, and live praise and worship. Confession and testimonies were also part of the day, alongside a showcase of food from around the world.
“Any type of food you are looking for is here,” Okosun said, noting that volunteers promised dishes representing multiple continents. “I even told people we might have lobster this year.”
Preparations for the festival began in May, he added, with a planning committee co-ordinating teams for logistics, entertainment, food, music and promotion. Okosun said that the experience of hosting the event over the past three years has made the process more efficient.
While the church bore the brunt of organizing, the Festival of Joy has become a “fixture for the wider community,” held annually after the Labour Day weekend. Admission is free, with attendees receiving prizes and children going home with vouchers and gifts.”
“This festival has achieved something important—it has brought people together,” Okosun said. “Instead of going to the U.S. to spend your hard dollars, just come here and enjoy a beautiful festival. You’ll go home with joy, with gifts, and with memories.”
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