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Health & Fitness

Ciao! Southington Italian American Festival - July 26 through 28

Southington’s 9th Annual Italian-American Festival kicks off at 5 pm on Friday, July 26 with musical and other entertainment all evening until 11 pm including music for a wide variety of tastes by "Sound Alternatives".   

UNICO and the Southington Sons of Italy are sponsoring the event with the participation of many organizations so that they may share their heritage with all citizens.  "For three days we're all Italian!", said co-chairman of the festival, Bob Triano.

Following past tradition, Center Street will be lined with Italian and American flags hanging from lamp posts along with many lights, colorful decorations and balloons from N. Liberty St to High Street . Over twenty vendors will be offering Italian specialty foods and other articles related to the Italian culture and heritage.  

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Look for your favorite Italian treats for the palate such as pasta fasulo, soffritto, sausage & peppers, pizza fritta, broccoli & sausage, porchetta, prosciutto and meatball grinders, pizza, artichoke Francese, veal & peppers, eggplant parmigiana, arancini and gelato.

Music will include "multi-international rhythms and themes appealing to multi-generational and ethnic tastes”, said entertainment coordinator, Joe LaPorte.

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Business establishments along the street will be open to the public during the three-day festivities. 

"The festival will be open on Saturday, July 27 from noon to11 pm with a welcoming ceremony at 5 pm.", said Festival co-chairman, Bill DellaVecchia. 

On Sunday, July 28th, an outdoor altar will be set up in the parking lot adjoining the Sons of Italy building for an Italian Sunday Mass celebrated by Fr. Frederick M. Aniello at 10 am. A statue of the Blessed Mother, (a gift of Patrick Baker & Sons to the Italian Rosary Society), so that people may observe vintage tradition of pinning dollar bills around the statue.  Donations will be given to charities supported by the Italian Rosary Society who will also be singing in Italian during the religious observances of the morning. 

Observing another tradition, a procession bearing the statue east to Liberty St, south to Eden Av., west to Bristol St., north to S. Center, returning to the festival area, will follow the Mass. The procession will include the Honor Guard of the Knights of Columbus. Sam Vinci’s Italian Marching Band, members of participating groups and dignitaries. All are welcome to join. In the event of rain, Mass will be moved to St. Thomas Church at 11:30 am Sunday. The 3-day festival will  close Sunday at 6 pm.

DellaVecchia said "Italian feasts go back more than a century to the great Italian migration to the U.S. They proudly became Americans while continuing to honor the customs of the old country.” 

Dolores LaPorte said, "These festivals bring back memories of my childhood; all the wonderful foods, fireworks, games, entertainment, face painting and just being happy with so many people.”

“The Feast, (as it has been called by Italian-Americans for a hundred years), continues treasured traditions of those who proudly demonstrate respect for their ethnic heritage.", Della Vecchia said. 

The joyous folkways of immigrant parents and grandparents are deeply rooted in these historic customs. They are kept alive today in communities throughout the United States by festivals that share the music, dancing and religious practices of the distant past in American communities today.  

Arrivederci Friday!

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