BURRILLVILLE – It’s been a fun night out for local families for years, offering dinner, live entertainment and a cash bar to crowds of visitors in the sprawling basement of the historic church on Harrisville Main Street.
And thanks to timing, 2026 will be a special year for Saint Patrick Church’s dinner/dance, giving locals the chance to treat one special lady in their life to an evening on the town.
The tenth annual event falls on Mother’s Day weekend, raising funds for the church while bringing both parishioners and the public at large together for a meal followed by live entertainment.
Event staple, The Live Music Band, will dedicate a few songs to those moms in attendance on Saturday, May 9, and aims to keep the crowd dancing with a mix of music from various genres spanning decades. Made up of six seasoned local rock musicians, the band was formed in 1980, and has performed at the dinner every year since its inception in 2016.
“This was always designed to be an activity to help bring the parish and the community together,” said Jim Langlois, a member of the church’s activity committee who also serves as guitarist and vocalist for the band. “This is just a fun night out.”
Church member Roger Johnson prepares the meal each year, typically with a few offerings such as chicken cordon bleu. Tickets are $25 a piece or $45 for two and include a complete meal, with a deluxe chicken dinner with vegetable, potato, salad and rolls, followed by coffee and dessert.
With live entertainment included, Langlois notes the fun comes at a bargain for those looking for a way to celebrate the occasion.
“It’s a great time to take your mom out for an affordable evening, and a safe evening, with great food and friends,” he said.
The dinner dance will feature a cash bar for beer, wine and soft drinks, and a 50/50 raffle.
It will also raise funds for a great cause, supporting activities and maintenance for a congregation considered the mother parish of the Catholic Church in northwest Rhode Island. St. Patrick was the first church established in the village in 1854 by Rev. Bernard Tully, and its territory once extended from the Blackstone River to Putnam, Conn. The original building was destroyed in 1938, but the church is still listed on the National Register of Historic places as contributing to the Harrisville district both architecturally and historically.
The event typically attracts a crowd of around 120 people, and from decorating and serving the meal, to the cleanup that follows,
“This is one of the biggest activities of the year for St. Patrick Church,” Langlois said. There’s quite a crew behind the scenes that helps make this happen. It involves quite a few people.”
Langlois said he’s hopeful the community – and especially parishioners – will show up to support the church and their effort.
The St. Patrick Mother’s Day Dinner Dance will take place on Saturday, May 9, with doors at 5, dinner served at 6 p.m. and The Live Music Band to go on at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the rectory at (401) 568-5600 and leaving a message.
