43
Lowellville's Mount Carmel Society Festival to mark 118th year
By EMMALEE C. TORISK
LOWELLVILLE
The Mount Carmel Society Festival, which is approaching its 118th year, is a tradition that all members of the long-standing fraternal order, including President Anthony Perry Sr., want to keep going.
“It’s a tradition that’s been carried on by the sons and grandsons of the people that started it,” said Perry, who is a third-generation member of the Mount Carmel Society. “It’s very special. We’re very proud of our heritage and our society.”
This year’s festival week will kick off with the annual spaghetti dinner on Sunday at the Mount Carmel Society Social Hall at 102 E. Washington St. Carry-out orders will be available from 11 a.m. to noon, while sit-down dinners will be served from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 6-10. Children 5 and under eat for free.
Members will then host a parade at 9 a.m. Tuesday — the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Perry said — that begins at the Society Social Hall and ends at Holy Rosary Church. The parade will be followed by high Mass, celebrated in both English and Italian.
The Society Festival itself will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, which is the first night for the Baby Doll Dance. The dance features a hollow 15-foot-tall papier-mache doll, and it is a tradition that traveled all the way with society members’ forefathers from southern Italy, Perry said. It supposedly cleansed the village of the troubles that had happened in the past year.
“The people erected a doll, which they burned in effigy, to bring in good luck for the following year,” he said. “We don’t burn her, but we use fireworks on her. When the dance is over, fireworks shoot off her head into the sky.”
The Baby Doll Dance will begin at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, then at 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Each night, it will be preceded by live music performed by Steve Fazzini or the Mount Carmel Society Band — or both.
From Wednesday through Saturday, the festival will begin at 6 p.m., and will include bocce and morra tournaments, Italian food, rides and games.
On Thursday, designated as Orr Donatelli Day, special-needs children will have the opportunity to enjoy the festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and they’ll also have lunch provided by the Mount Carmel Society Ladies Club. It’s something nice that has been going on for more than 30 years, Perry said.
Finally, on Saturday, the festival will conclude with a fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks at 11:59 p.m.
“I’m very honored and humbled to be the president of the Mount Carmel Society. I take it very seriously,” said Perry, who added that planning for this year’s festival began in January. “The Mount Carmel Society Festival is something that we all believe in.”