By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET — With the rising price of gas, food and utilities, festival officials are hoping families will spend their “staycation” at a local summer tradition.

The annual Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Summer Festival will once again offer free admission this year from Wednesday, July 30, to Saturday, Aug. 2, on the parish grounds at Park Square. Free parking is also available.
Romeo Berthiaume, co-chair of the festival committee, said he is optimistic that this year’s event will draw large crowds due to the high price of gasoline, which has caused many local families to either cancel or shorten their annual summer vacations.
“It is a tough time right now with the economy,” Berthiaume said. “People are not taking vacations with the high price of gas. It (the festival) has free admission and parking. Why go far away from home when you can have all the enjoyment right here locally?”
The festival will be held from Wednesday to Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m., with a special matinee on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. During the matinee, attendants will have the opportunity to purchase a special bracelet, which will allow patrons to ride all rides for a one-time fee.
Opening night on Wednesday will also feature a special ticket price, in which amusement rides will cost $1.50 each. Rockwell Amusements will supply the rides, which will include the Ferris Wheel and many others.
A spectacular display of fireworks will light up the night on Thursday at 9 p.m. In the event of rain, the bright lights and loud bangs will appear in the sky on Friday at 9 p.m.
“Cuisine Ronaldo” will offer a litany of festival foods, including chowder and clam cakes, hot dogs and hamburgers, French fries, onion rings, meatball sandwiches and more.
The kitchen will open at 6 p.m. each day, except on Friday. The kitchen will open extra early on Friday at 3 p.m. in order to offer a traditional New England favorite – fish and chips, which will be available for the first time in the festival’s history.
There will also be a limited menu available on Saturday afternoon. A total of $10,000 worth of prizes will be awarded at the close of the festival on Saturday night.
 Officials will raffle off a number of prizes, including $5,000 and another prize of 500 instant Rhode Island lottery tickets.
Raffle tickets are currently on sale at a booth on Park Avenue, as well as at the nearby parish rectory.
The festival will also feature many other carnival type games and the opportunity to win several prizes. The festival will also feature live entertainment, provided by John Guevremont.
Once again this year, the parish will donate 10 percent of its profits to a charity or organization. In the past, donations have benefited the CYO, Haven of Grace, missions in Haiti, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Greater Woonsocket Regional Catholic School System.
The festival’s executive committee, which is also co-chaired by Diane Berthiaume, has been hard at work with many volunteers planning for this annual event since last year.
Members of the festival committee also include Beverly Jolicoeur, Kim Lefebvre, Jason Nichols, Mel Mann, Melissa Mathurin, Melissa Raymond, Gerry Houle, Ernie Blanchard and the Rev. Maurice Brindamour.
For more information about the festival, visit www.olqm.info/festival.htm.