AVONDALE — St. Hyacinth Basilica’s annual carnival kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The carnival will run through Sunday at the Avondale church, 3636 W. Wolfram St.

There will be rides, games, live entertainment, a beer garden and a pina colada bar for adults and loads of authentic Polish food plus other food like pizza and ice cream. Admission is free.

Carnival-goers will be asked to enter their names into a raffle — with a top prize of $1,000 — before 8 p.m. Sunday.

Raffle tickets are available in the parish office or at the carnival and cost $2 each or $20 for 11.

St. Hyacinth Basilica is one of only three basilicas in Chicago. Basilicas are churches given a special designation by the pope.

The Polish Catholic church will be open for viewing during the carnival, which will run 6 – 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4-10 p.m. Saturday and 1-10 p.m. Sunday.

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