Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival begins Thursday in Courthouse Square

Photo

Photo by: Special to The Vindicator

Michelina Wayt and Dominic Bowser, both of Warren, were the Tiny Queen and Tiny King at last year’s Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival. This year’s event starts Thursday in Courthouse Square.

Staff report

WARREN

The timing is right for a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute band to perform in Courthouse Square.

The tribute band Lights Out will perform shows at this week’s Warren Italian-American Heritage Festival on Courthouse Square at 9:45 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

The timing is good because of last month’s release of the Clint Eastwood movie “Jersey Boys,” which is about Valli and the band, which had its first megahit, “Sherry,” in 1962, closely followed by “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” In 1963, they scored big hits with “Walk Like a Man,” and “Ain’t That a Shame.”

Phil Sidoti, vice president of Warren’s 2014 festival, its 30th, said Lights Out is “excellent,” adding, “You close your eyes and you think they’re Frankie Valli.”

The four-day festival brings back standard attractions — food, bocce and morra tournaments, musical performances on two stages, queen contest and Tiny King and Tiny Queen pageant.

But the fireworks display has been moved this year to the end of the festival — 10:45 p.m. Sunday — from its normal spot Thursday, Sidoti said.

Also new this year are educational panels on loan from the Youngstown State University History Department that give information on the history of Italian Americans in the Mahoning Valley.

Attendees are asked for a $3 donation. The festival begins with a 4 p.m. Thursday ribbon-cutting. Nine students will receive scholarships of $1,000 each at the 9:30 a.m. Friday morning kickoff breakfast.

Some Warren streets will be closed to accommodate the Italian American Festival starting Wednesday and reopening Sunday at 9 a.m.

The closed streets will include West Market Street from North Park Avenue to Main Street; Mahoning Avenue from High Street to Market; High from Mahoning to North Park; and Harmon Avenue.