2 pageants to open Warren Italian festival

Last year’s wine-tasting competition drew 180 entries.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The 25th Annual Italian American Heritage Festival on Courthouse Square begins Thursday with the Tiny King and Queen Pageant at 5 p.m. and Miss Italian Pageant at 6:30 p.m.

The next morning, Tony Lariccia of Boardman, a philanthropist, will speak during the kickoff breakfast at 9 a.m.

Phil Sidoti, president of the festival, said more than $30,000 will be spent on entertainers from California, New York City, Nevada and New Jersey, attracting people to attend from as far away as Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Findlay.

But many of the most-popular events are locally based, such as the wine-tasting competition that drew 180 bottles of homemade wine last year; and the pasta-sauce competition, which was new last year.

Warren’s festival is among the only ones that features an Italian cultural-heritage component, Sidoti said. This year’s cultural-heritage area near the courthouse fountain features individuals participating in a re-creation of the famous painting “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci.

Rides for kids are also available.

“It’s a festival with food, entertainment and to display our heritage and culture of Italy,” Sidoti said.

The festival gives away five $1,000 scholarships with proceeds from the festival.

A donation of $3 is requested.

Thursday

Ribbon cutting: 4:45 p.m.

Tiny King and Queen Pageant: 5 p.m.

Bocce tournament: 6 to 11 p.m.

Miss Italian Pageant: 6:30 p.m.

John Gabriele: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Cultural heritage displays: 6 to 10 p.m.

Oro Puro band: 8:30 to 10:45 p.m.

Friday

Breakfast: 9 a.m.

Bocce tournament: 5 to 11 p.m.

Dana School of Music: 7 to 8 p.m.

Cultural heritage displays: 6 to 10 p.m.

Rex Taneri: 7 to 11 p.m.

Oro Puro band: 8:30 to 10:45 p.m.

Saturday

Bocce tournament: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Children’s entertainment: 1 to 4 p.m.

Wine tasting competition: 1 p.m.

Avanti Band: 1 to 5 p.m.

Pasta sauce contest: 1:30 p.m.

Morra tournament: 2 p.m.

Cultural heritage displays: noon to 10 p.m.

Graziana: 6 to 7 p.m.

Frank Gallo: 7 to 11 p.m.

The Gaylords: 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

Italica band: 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Moreno Fruzzetti: 9:45 to 10:45 p.m.

Sunday

Blessed Virgin Procession with outdoor Mass to follow: 9:30 a.m.

Continental breakfast: 10:45 a.m.

Bocce Tournament: 11 a.m.

Tonelli Band: 1 to 5 p.m.

Rocky Churchiglia: 7 to 11 p.m.

Parade: 2 p.m.

Cultural heritage displays: noon to 10 p.m.

Italica band: 6 to 7 p.m.

Graziana: 7:15 to 8:15 p.m.

The Gaylords: 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Moreno Fruzzetti: 9:45 to 10:45 p.m.

Fireworks: 10:45 p.m.

Source: Italian-American Heritage Festival