Sunday, July 26, 2009
Music and winemaking will be a big part of the fun.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Gaylords and Pino Marelli will top the entertainment at this year’s Greater Youngstown Italian Festival. The two acts will perform back-to-back from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 2.
The Gaylords are a music and comedy duo who had several Italian-flavored hits in the 1950s.
Marelli, a native of Italy, has been a singer in Europe and North America, and on cruise shops, for three decades.
A host of musical groups are also scheduled to perform, including Dom Tocco, John Gabriele, Rex Taneri, Del Sinchak, Del Rezek, Jim Frank, Frankie Gallo, Bustin’ Loose, Rocco Monaco and Frankie and the Sensations.
Music videos from Italian pop stars will play nonstop this year in two 20-foot by 20-foot tents, said Ralph Greco, chairman of the festival. Greco said he tracked down the videos on the Internet.
The giant downtown street festival will sprawl out over the better part of six city blocks, which will be closed to traffic. The three-day festival will begin Friday at 11 a.m.
Gates will open at 11 a.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Aug. 2.
New this year will be a large grape-stomping vat, which will be used in old-fashioned wine-making demonstrations. Up to four women in their bare feet can get in the vat and smash down grapes, said festival aide Arlene DeChellis. That’s how the juice was extracted by home wine makers in past generations, she said.
Carnival rides will be set up over a three-block area at the east end of the street festival. Federal Street will be blocked off from Phelps Street to Walnut Street, and Wick Avenue will be closed from Commerce Street to Boardman Street.
There will be 36 food vendors, plus craft booths, mainly around the center of the festival in the Central Square area. Boccie and morra tournaments will be ongoing, and there will be a pasta-eating contest at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Beer Garden tent, and the Little King and Queen pageant at 3:30 p.m. Sunday on the main stage. The Miss Italian Pageant will be at 7 p.m. Friday on the Main Stage.
Opening ceremonies will be at 5 p.m. Friday, with Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti as keynote speaker.
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE Greater Youngstown Italian Festival
FRIDAY
Gates open at 11 a.m.
Roma Stage:
5-6 p.m.: Opening ceremony
7-8:30 p.m.: Beauty pageant
9-11 p.m.: Dom Tocco
Beer Garden:
11 a.m.-2 p.m.: John Gabriele
4-7 p.m.: Rex Taneri
7:30-11 p.m.: Del Sinchak
Man and Woman of the Year
SATURDAY
Gates open at 3 p.m.
Roma Stage:
4-5 p.m.: Polka Mass with celebrant Seierz music by Del Rezek
5-7 p.m.: Del Rezek
7:30-9 p.m.: Pino Marelli
9:15-10:30 p.m.: The Gaylords
Songs by Steve Fazzini
Beer Garden:
4-5 p.m.: Jim Frank
5-5:30 p.m.: Pasta Eating Contest
6:45-8:45 p.m.: Frankie Gallo
9-11p.m.: Bustin’ Loose
Italian Music Videos
AUG. 2
Gates open at 11 a.m.
Roma Stage:
Noon to 1 p.m.: Sunday Mass
1-3 p.m.: Lowellville Band
3:30-4:30 p.m.: Little King and Queen
5-6:30 p.m.: Cavaliers
7-8:45 p.m.: Pino Marelli
9-10:30 p.m.: The Gaylords
Songs by Steve Fazzini
$1,000 Drawing
Beer Garden:
2-5 p.m.: Rocky Chirchiglia
5:50-8 p.m.: Rocco Monaco
8:30-10 p.m.: Frankie and the Sensations