Great weather helped boost 2015 Italian Festival attendance by 20 percent

People danced along to the music as the 2015 Greater Youngstown Italian Festival in downtown came to an end Sunday night.

“This is one of the most successful festivals I’ve been a part of,” said John Rossetti, festival chairman.

Rossetti said attendance was up about 20 percent from last year. The festival anticipated about 40,000 people to attend.

“With the three days of good weather we had made it,” he said.

“Everything went well this year,” he said, thanking the volunteers for their hardwork.

“I’m just a caretaker,” he added.

The Houseband and Dom Tacco were the final two bands that performed at the wine and bar tent and Roma tent, respectively.

“We have two phenomenal bands closing out,” Rossetti said, adding that headliner Aaron Caruso was a hit.

“Can’t wait to have him back again,” he said.

Youngstown police Lt. Bill Ross said it was an “uneventful festival from a police perspective” during the festival. There was a one-on-one fist fight, which attracted some onlookers, that sent one person to the hospital, he said.

Rossetti said they have received no complaints but instead people asking when the festival took place and the price of admission.

“Everybody was friendly,” he said.