Food, Fireworks And Entertainment Highlight Southington's Huge Italian Celebration

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The 21st Southington Italian-American Festival will return to downtown Southington July 24-26, bringing three days of live entertainment, Italian food, cultural traditions and family-friendly activities to Lower Center Street.

Organized by the Sons of Italy, Sorelle d'Italia in America and Southington UNICO, the annual festival celebrates Italian heritage and culture with continuous entertainment, an Italian Marketplace, food vendors, a raffle and free activities for children throughout the weekend.

Festival hours are 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 25, and noon until late afternoon Sunday, July 26, following an outdoor Mass and procession.

The festival opens Friday evening with performances by singer and musician Marcello Sparagna before entertainer Biagio Benevenga takes the stage.

Members of "Le Sorelle" e Bambini e Pulcinella will perform traditional Italian folkloristic dances, and the evening concludes with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

A rain date for the fireworks is scheduled for Saturday night.

Children's activities on Friday include free balloon twisting from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday's schedule includes an outdoor bingo tournament from 1 to 3 p.m., children's Italian arts and crafts, a Scopa card tournament at the Sons of Italy Hall, and free face painting.

Live entertainment features singer-songwriter Piero Massaro e Amici, followed by performances from Italian-American pop opera singer Vittorio DiCarlo and vocalist Ella Cristina von Helms.

Pane e Cioccolata Band, featuring Angelo Coppola on accordion, closes out the evening, with another performance by "Le Sorelle" e Bambini e Pulcinella scheduled during the night.

Sunday begins with an outdoor Italian Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a traditional street procession.

The festival opens at noon and includes free children's train rides from 1 to 4 p.m. and face painting from 2 to 4 p.m.

The weekend concludes with live music by John Micalizzi and Lisa Messina before a raffle drawing and closing ceremonies.

Festival Highlights

Friday, July 24

• Festival hours: 5-10:30 p.m.
• Live music by Marcello Sparagna and Biagio Benevenga
• Italian folkloristic dance performance
• Free balloon twisting (5:30-8 p.m.)
• Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. (rain date Saturday)

Saturday, July 25

• Festival hours: 1-10 p.m.
• Outdoor bingo tournament (1-3 p.m.)
• Children's Italian arts and crafts (1-3 p.m.)
• Free face painting
• Scopa tournament
• Live entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening

Sunday, July 26

• Outdoor Italian Mass at 10 a.m. followed by a procession
• Festival opens at noon
• Free children's train rides (1-4 p.m.)
• Free face painting (2-4 p.m.)
• Live music by John Micalizzi and Lisa Messina
• Raffle drawing and closing ceremonies

Festival organizers said the annual event continues its tradition of celebrating Italian heritage while offering activities for visitors of all ages throughout the three-day celebration.

For the latest information on the event, click on its Facebook page at this link.