For Immediate Release
Italian Center’s 24th Annual “Festa Italiana”
Every year as Spring comes around and the weather gets warmer the entire membership of the Italian Center focuses on the club’s most nostalgic events of the year. Both Italian Center member and the Italian Community have fond memories of the fun, food and fellowship shares at the annual Festa Italian. Whether one’s mind “flashes us back” to the Mt. Carmel Feast in the old neighborhood or any other of our area’s many fine Italian street feasta’s those memories are always fond ones.
There is no other event you can attend where you get to see so many people who you’ve gone to school, church or worked with in one place in such a concentrated period? In one night you might see an elderly Aunt or Uncle or some old girl or boyfriend from long ago. That’s one of the exciting things of coming back to the neighborhood and enjoying a great evening of great food, laughs and just to hang out.
The variety and amount of food prepared and served during this four-day event is mind boggling. Volunteers serve the over 15,000 guests mouthwatering sausage and pepper sandwiches, fried zeppola, pounds of fried dough, homemade baked ziti, plates piled high with spaghetti, pasta fagiole and there is even a clam bar. Also, the volunteers will be preparing close to 1,000 portions of eggplant rollatini, chicken parmigiana and meatballs. All this tasty food will be consumed along with kegs of beer, and cases of wine and soda. To finish off the list of traditional Italian food offerings there will be irresistible homemade cannoli, assorted Italian pastries and cookies served with cappuccino, demitasse coffees and liquors.
The Festa offers more games of chance and skill than any other local venue with its raffles, gaming wheels, card games and the like. There’s a “jammed packed” schedule with lots of entertainment and musical groups. Children of all ages will enjoy the spin art, cotton candy, magic shows and Bee-Bee the Clown. This annual event requires more than 150 volunteers daily to operate the gambling, beverage, food and other concession booths that are open 4 straight days for over 30 hours. That’s what makes the Center’s Traditional Annual Festa Italiana a delightful event.
The hours of this year’s Festa are: Thursday, May 17th: Lunch 11:00 am-2:00 pm, 5:00 to 9:00 pm, Friday, May 18th: Lunch 11:00 am-2:00 pm, 5:00 – 10:00 pm, Saturday, May 19th: 11:30 am– 10:00 pm, Sunday, May 20th: 1:00 – 9:00 pm.
This year’s featured musical and entertainment groups will surely be the highlight of the Festa.
Thursday, May 17th: 5:30 pm – Roberto Milanese and Angela Bruno, playing your favorite Italian songs.
Friday, May 18th: 6:30 – 7:45 pm Bill’s Toupee, easy listening and dancing, 7:45 – 9:45 pm – Jackie the Magician, performing magic, making balloon characters and a puppet show.
Saturday, May 20th: 2:00pm, Jerry Nicolato “Italian Favorites”, 6:30 pm, Midnight Image.
Sunday, May 21st; entertainment all day and evening. 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Bee Bee the Clown – free balloons for the children, 2:00 – 3:00 pm – JG Dancers, 3:45 – 4:30 pm – Magic Show, 5:30 – 9:00 pm - Chain Gang, 9:15 pm - Drawings and Raffles.
The Italian Center has occupied 227 Mill Street since its purchase in 1928 after the merger of several groups Italian American groups to provide a permanent home for the Italian American community. It is located at the intersections of Mansion and Washington Streets and Columbus Drive in the City of Poughkeepsie.
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For Additional Information Contact: John Mazzetti 845-454-3021 or John.mazzetti@yahoo.com
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