Greater Youngstown Italian Festival

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Greater Youngstown Italian Fest will end with a bang this year.

The downtown event is adding a fireworks show at 10:45 p.m. Sunday night that will bring the three-day street party to a close.

Fireworks used to be a regular part of the fest, now in its 31st year. But there hasn’t been a display since 2007, which was the first year the event moved back downtown from the Canfield Fairgrounds.

That year, the fireworks were shot off from the Covelli Centre lots, and were not readily visible from the festival area along Central Square. This year, the fireworks will be shot from the Market Street Bridge, which will be closed to traffic and will be very visible from the festival site.

Why bring the fireworks back this year?

“It’s just something exciting,” said John Rossetti, director of the festival, who is always on the lookout for ways to improve the event. “We’re hoping it’s a great weekend, and what better way to thank the community?”

Any festival organizer’s primary worry is rain. But this year, the biggest question mark is the heat.

Rossetti doesn’t see it as a problem. “It’s supposed to be in the 80s,” he said. “If it gets too hot, nobody wants to eat. And maybe some senior citizens can’t go. But the beer and ice cream does great.”

As always, the Italian festival will sprawl over six blocks, with Central Square as its focal point. There will be two massive tents: the Roma tent, on West Federal, which will feature traditional Italian entertainment; and the Beer Tent, on East Federal, which will have a bar and a lineup of modern acts — including newcomers Punk Willie and the Barflies.

The Houseband has held the festival closing slot in the Beer tent Sunday night for the past few years, but because the popular act split up last year, the job will fall to the K Street Band, which consists of some former members of the Houseband.

The festival also will include an area of amusement rides and plenty of food. There will be close to 40 food vendors, including some of the area’s most-popular restaurants, offering Italian foods, and just about every other kind.

The morra tournament will take place Friday evening at 7 p.m., but there will be no boccie tourney this year. The portable court, which had been put up behind the Realty Building, was not up to the standards that players expect. “They didn’t like it,” said Rossetti, “so we dropped it this year. We’re working on getting a better surface and bringing it back.”

Last year, the festival had an attendance of about 35,000 over the three days. Admission is $4 (free Friday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.). Children under 12 will be admitted free. No one under 18 will be admitted without a parent.

Although the festival officially opens Friday, the food vendors will be open for lunch today. It’s become a downtown tradition. “It’s a test run,” said Rossetti. “The downtown crowd knows about it.”

In addition to promoting Italian heritage to the Valley, the festival also has been reintroducing suburbanites to the city.

Now, it hopes to attract folks from outside the area. Billboards advertising the event are up in Pittsburgh, northwest Pennsylvania, Canton and Akron, said Rossetti.

In his effort to keep growing the event, the director said he’s toying with the idea of putting up structures next year on which to hang strings of lights and banners. “It would add to the ‘Little Italy’ look,” said Rossetti.

SCHEDULE

Friday

Wine and Beer Tent

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: John Gabriele

4-6 p.m.: Rex Taneri

6:30-8 p.m.: Punk Willie

8:30-11:30 p.m.: Redline

7 p.m.: Morra tournament

Roma Stage

5-6 p.m.: Opening ceremonies

6-7:30 p.m.: Miss Italian Fest Pageant

8-11 p.m.: The Ovations

Saturday

Wine and Beer Tent

2-4 p.m.: Jim Frank Trio

4-6 p.m.: Pasta eating contest

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Butch Nichols Band

7-8:30 p.m.: Barflies

9-11:30 p.m.: Bustin’ Loose

Roma Stage

2-3:30 p.m.: Mirella the Musician

4-6:10 p.m.: Polka Mass with Jack Vasko

6:30-8:30 p.m.: Del Sinchak

9-10:15 p.m.: Jimmy Alleva

Sunday

Wine and Beer Tent

2-4 p.m.: Rocky Monaco

5-7 p.m.: Frank Gallo

8-11 p.m.: K Street Band

Roma Stage

12-1 p.m.: Outdoor Mass

1-2:30 p.m.: Lowellville Band

2:30-4 p.m.: Little King and Queen Pageant

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Avanti Band

7-8:15 p.m.: Jimmy Alleva

8:45-10:45 p.m.: Dominic Tocco

10:45 p.m.: Grand raffle drawing

10:45 p.m.: Fireworks