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Italian-American Festival brings the flavor
Comments 0 | Recommend 0LIMA - A festival overflowing with spaghetti and stromboli, kid's fun and Italian crooners, cake wheels and cannoli.
Sounds bellísimo, doesn't it?
The fourth annual Italian-American Festival is back, this year hosted by the Knights of Columbus in Lima, said festival co-chair Steve Kayatin. Much like the festival's earlier years (which were co-hosted by Italian organization CIAO), Kayatin said this year's event will include many of the same foods and entertainment as before.
"We wanted to keep it as similar to what was done in the past, because it was successful," he said. "We really think it's going to be a great event."
After the kick-off feast July 17, the festival's activities will kick into action today, Kayatin. Visitors can chow down on homemade Italian food and sweets, which will be sold by several local eateries, and browse an Italian marketplace filled with crafts. For kids, Kayatin said they will enjoy the kid's area, where a $5 bracelet lets your little bundles of joy play on six different inflatable attractions.
While kids will enjoy bouncing around, parents will like listening to tunes both Friday and Saturday, Kayatin said. Featured performer and Sinatra-esque crooner Michael Sutherland will perform both nights, Kayatin said, and classics singer Brian Michael Smith will also take the stage twice on Saturday. Other live music will include performances by Johnny Pond and the Diamond Brothers on Friday, and Three Stools and a Bar and We Be Fifty on Saturday.
Instead of hosting an "American Idol"-style contest this year, Kayatin said "Italian-American Idol" will feature performances by two "American Idol" contestants, Atlanta tryout Dustin Long and Top 24 finalist Garret Haley from Elida.
Rounding out the activities, Kayatin said adults could test their luck with raffles and games of chance. The grand prize for the raffle is $5,000, with smaller cash prizes for second through 10th place.
Italian-American Festival
WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday. Fireworks at 10 p.m.
WHERE: Knights of Columbus, 810 S. Cable Road, Lima
COST: Free admission.
FOR MORE INFO: Call 419-223-0761.
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