SMOS 2024 Parish Labor Day Frequently Asked Questions

  1. History
    ► Question: How long has Saint Mary of Sorrows (SMOS) been conducting picnics?
    ► This will be the 148th annually-occurring parish family picnic. Prior to 1876,
    the parish had been conducting modest parish celebrations, often on the 4th of July. The
    1876 Centennial Exposition, an epic world's fair held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, ran from May
    10th to November 10th, 1876. This extraordinary world’s fair was a sensation which
    attracted almost 10 million visitors. Based on all of the positive news about the success
    of the Centennial Exposition, the parish moved the timing of its picnics to the fall Labor
    Day, which pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers,
    became a federal holiday in 1894. Having the SMOS family picnic on Labor Day
    weekend symbolizes the approaching end of summer for many Americans and is a cause
    for celebration of God’s many blessings to our Nation.
    All available records indicate that conducting these annual picnics is the longest
    continually running public event of its kind in Northern Virginia.
  2. Schedule
    ► Question: What will be the schedule of events on September 2nd, 2024?
    ► Answer:
    10:00 am: Mass celebrated at the Church
    10:45 am: Blessing of the tools
    10:55 am: Picnic games, contests, and activities commence (see list at the end of this
    document for types of games and contests)
       ■ 10:45 am: Egg-on-a-Spoon
       ■ 11:15 am: Cooked foods, treats, country store items, plant sale items, and baked
    goods treats available for purchase
       ■ 11:30 am: Tug-o-War
       ■ 12:15 am: 3-Legged Races and Sack Races
       ■ 1:00 pm: Water balloon Toss
       ■ 1:30 pm: Adult Pie Eating Contest
     2:00 pm: Picnic ends
  3. Site Map
    ► Question: Where may picnic goers obtain up a printed site map?
    ► Answer: We will have an Information Desk located on the walkway coming down from the church when mass concludes (approximately 10:45 am). The volunteers at the Information Booth will have site maps and other printed information sheets available to hand out. Around 11:15 am, the volunteers manning the Information Desk will shift operations further inside the parish parking lot. They will remain there for the duration of the picnic.
  4. Cost
    ► Question: What does the picnic cost?
    ► Answer: All games, contests, and activities are free, as are parking, bottled water, and
    bingo games. See below for a list of the games, activities and contests by age group
  5. Food
    ► Question: What types of food and treats will be available for purchase?
    ► Answer: Picnicgoers may purchase a variety of delicious cooked and other items,
    including:
       Hot dogs, hamburgers, and sodas offered by the Ancient Order of Hibernians
       (designated spot in the parish center parking lot)
       BBQ chicken dinners offered by the Knights of Columbus (Farrell Hall)
       Pizza by the slice offered by the Amigos En Christo and the Italian Heritage Society (St. Joseph’s Hall)
       Ice cream bars, ice cream cones, and popsicles (one location in the parking lot and one location in St. Joseph’s Hall)
       Sno-cones at one location in the parking lot.  Brownies, cookies, pies, cakes, jams and jellies, and other goodies at Baked Goods tables in     Farrell Hall
  6. Parking
    ► Question: Where will attendees park?
    ► Answer: Individuals planning to attend the 10 am Mass should enter the parish grounds
    off Zion Road and park in the multiple rows of parking directly across from the church.
    Fifteen minutes after the mass commences, that entrance off of Zion Road will be closed
    to vehicular traffic. There are two other entrances to the parish grounds off of Sideburn
    Road. The entrance closes to Zion Road will be blocked. All other vehicles will access
    the picnic using the entrance closest to Robinson Secondary School. / After Mass.
  7. Safety and Security
    ► Question: What the arrangements for safety and security measures?
    ► Answer: We will have safety and security personnel onsite, ranging from the Fairfax
    County Police Department, Emergency Medical Teams, and roving volunteers to assist
    with parking and any other issues.
  8. First Aid
    ► Question: What first aid support will be available?
    ► Answer: We will have a First Aid section manned by physicians, nurses and health care professionals located in the upper parking lot adjacent to the parish center.
  9. Inclement Weather
    ► Question: What procedures will be implemented in the event of torrential rain?
    ► Answer: TBD.
  10. Lost Parents
    ► Question: What should children do if their parents wander off?
    ► Answer: Ask any picnic volunteer or other adult for help.
  11. Old and New:
    ► Question: What events will be carried over from last year and what features will be new
    this year?
    ► Answer:
    Carried over: A variety of games, and activities for attendees of all ages; hot dogs
    and hamburgers; BBQ chicken dinners; Country Store; baked goods sales; plant
    sales; Family Bingo; adult pie eating contest; tours of the church; ministry tables
    New this year: Sales of pizza by the slice; ice cream bars, ice cream cones, and
    popsicles; Sno-cones
  12. Lost and Found
    ► Question: Given the popularity of cell phones and tablets, what should attendees do if
    they lose or find any personal items?
    ► Answer: TBD
  13. What to Bring
    ► Question: What items should picnic-goers consider bringing with them?
    ► Answer: The parish center picnic area is largely composed of asphalt pavement with few
    grassy areas and shade. The pavement absorbs and reflects heat. Based on years of
    experience, here are some things to consider:
    Lots of age-appropriate sunscreen
    Coolers
       Strollers
       Folding chairs
       Blankets for spreading out
       Pop up sun canopies that are self-supporting (i.e., do not need to be attached to the
    ground)
       Cash or a checkbook (most activities (except the Knights of Columbus) do not
    take debit or credit cards
  14. Gluten Products:
    ► Question: Will non-gluten products be available?
    ► Answer: TBD
  15.  Preordered Food
    ► Question: May attendees pre-order food?
    ► Answer: Pre-ordering food is only available for chicken dinners sold by the Knights of Columbus.