Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival celebrates Italian heritage

July 24, 2015 at 9:10p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Dan Cipriano enjoyed lots of Italian food during a trip to Italy and, most recently, at a longtime area festival.

Sandwiched in between was the business of having won a $1,000 scholarship.

“I just love handicapped kids. It’s a joy to work with them,” the 2015 Poland Seminary High School graduate said Friday, referring to the type of career he hopes to pursue after majoring in special education at Youngstown State University.

His higher-education plans received the financial boost, thanks to having been one of three scholarship recipients during the 17th annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica Church, 343 Via Mount Carmel Drive near downtown Youngstown.

The four-day fest, which kicked off Thursday, continues from 5 to 11 p.m. today and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the church and social hall. Admission is $4 for adults and free for children under age 12.

Fourteen food vendors and 10 to 12 craft vendors make up this year’s event, which aims to celebrate Italian traditions, heritage and culture, noted Joyce Frattaroli, who, along with her husband, Frank Frattaroli, chairs the festival.