43
Italian fest keeping it authentic
YOUNGSTOWN — In an area that has no shortage of Italian festivals, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel affair likes to stake its claim with authenticity.
This year, the Mount Carmel fest will take it up a notch. Strings of red, white and green lights — the colors of Italy — will adorn Via Mount Carmel, as will Italian and American flags. Fairgoers will be greeted with a giant banner that says “benvenuti” — Italian for “welcome,” a touch of the Old World, or at least a New York-style Italian street festival
“I’ve always wanted to get that atmosphere going, and I got it done this year,” said Tony Trolio, festival chairman.
Trolio has more up his sleeve — like a 40-foot gondola, the iconic canal boats of Venice, and two Sicilian donkey carts. “I’ve been trying to get the donkey carts for years, and finally got it finalized this year,” said Trolio.
The four-day festival opens Thursday.
Because Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the festival will include a parade at 3 p.m. July 27. It’s another first that Trolio said will remain a part of the fun in future years.
The parade will consist of antique cars, bands, clowns the Autstintown High School drum corps, political leaders and Italian clubs. It will start at the corner of Fifth and Lincoln avenues, proceed down Fifth to Rayen Avenue, where it will turn left and head down Rayen to the festival.
“We have 45 entries in the parade, which is good for the first year,” said Trolio. “You have to build these things up over the years.”
As a niche promoter of Italian dinner-dances and nostalgia acts, Trolio knows about finding an audience and building on it. He draws on his contacts in the entertainment world to fill the schedule at the Mount Carmel fest.
The featured act this year is Jay and Gisele, a duo from Australia who are making their first visit to America. Past favorites like Pino Marelli of Detroit and Graziana of Atlantic City, N.J., are also on the schedule.
“I’ve been in the entertainment business for 25 years, working with agents,” he said. “They find me.”
The Mount Carmel Italian Festival’s theme this year is “A Salute to Immigrants.” A bronze statue of an Italian immigrant family stepping off a boat was dedicated last month and placed on the church grounds. The $135,000 work of art was created by Tom Antonishak of Poland, and funded by local philanthropist Tony Lariccia.
The festival attracted more than 10,000 people last year, and Trolio expects that number to go even higher this year. A free shuttle will transport visitors to the festival from several nearby parking lots, including at the United Way building, St. Cyril and Methodius church, the IBM building, Levinson Tire, Advantage Vinyl, P L Heating and the YMCA.
The festival’s Little Prince and Princess Pageant will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in the church social hall; the wine making contest will begin at 6 p.m. Friday.