On a warm but comfortable late summer’s day on Saturday, the annual St. Mary’s International Festival attracted one of its biggest crowds around the church, located at Fifth and Market streets.

A hundred or more antique and classic cars and trucks and motorcycles with smooth and pleasing lines lined Market Street and several side streets. Car owners had from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. to register their vehicles and find a spot to pull them in for public display. Trophies were awarded at 4 p.m., but the names of winners were not available at press time.

Paul Thompson and his cousin, Ron Thompson, both of West Portsmouth, displayed their cars — a 1953 Packard and a 1949 Plymouth — on Fifth Street beside the church. Ron Thompson bypassed all the unique international food being offered on the church’s food court for a couple of American hot dogs loaded with homemade meat sauce.

The festival featured an International Food Court to celebrate and share the unique heritage of the Catholic church’s parishioners, past and present.

On the food court, behind the church, visitors enjoyed food selections that included German, Italian, Philippine, Mid East, Irish, Mexican and American.

Other favorite treats were homemade ice cream, pies and cakes.

An indoor flea market and craft room operated from 9 a.m. until closing time. People who could not find a treasure to take home there also had a long line of goods offered through a silent auction.

Raffle tickets were available for a “Diamond in the Rough” handcrafted queen-size quilt, a 42-inch flat screen television set and five cash prizes.

The festival continues today. The food court will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Live entertainment, music, and kids’ games are to be offered for the whole family to enjoy.

“It’s a weekend filled with fun and fellowship, and everyone is invited,” said Tracy Conn, with the church’s office of communications.

For more information, call (740) 354-4551.

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.