Bradford’s Festa Italiana will never be the same again.
Though the festival is slated for Aug. 9 through 11, emotions are still heavy after the passing of Tom Brown, who was actively involved in the Italian-American Progressive Club and the Festa Italiana Committee. But Mary Ann Colestro, Festa Italiana Committee secretary, says that the show must go on.
Colestro said, “This year will be especially emotional for a lot of us as we lost our president and friend Tom Brown recently. We will carry on the traditions that meant so much to him and hopefully do it for many years to come.”
The club decided to honor Brown with the Tom Brown Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to a student attending college whose parents or grandparents are members of the Italian Club, LaStella Lodge or LaStella Auxiliary.
“We advertised for the last couple months and the students wrote some wonderful essays. We will choose the winner at the opening ceremony Thursday night, along with Tom’s family, we will present the scholarship and plaque that will hang in the Italian Club each year,” said Colestro.
The festival will feature an arrangement of games for all ages, a train, a bounce house, face painting, a photo booth and motorized stuffed animals.
Colestro discussed a common favorite –– food.
“This year we have all the favorites: meatball sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, muffaletta sandwiches, rigatoni, pasta e fagioli and Italian wedding soup. Also new this year, we added a coffee and dessert booth, which will be located over by the food section. It will feature gourmet coffees, lattes and iced coffee along with our new addition zeppole with chocolate sauce, cannoli and ice cream,” said Colestro.
She added that part of the festival’s big picture is the community’s volunteers.
“Almost every sports organization, from Pitt-Bradford down to midget league, volunteers for their organization, and then the (committee) makes a donation to their organization. That is what the Festa Italiana is about: Sharing our Italian heritage while passing down the ideas of volunteerism and giving back to the community. All (proceeds) raised each year, after meeting our commitments to vendors, are given back to the community and we start all over the next year,” she said.
As for entertainment, the festival will include performances by Taylor Brinker from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by Second Act from 7 to 11 p.m on Thursday, Aug. 9; Studio B Dance Academy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Freddy and the Jets from 1 to 5 p.m., Dark Water Duo from 5 to 9 p.m. and We Speak Canadian from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10; and on Aug. 11, Jim Ronan will play from 1 to 5 p.m., Marshmellow Overcoat from 6:15 to 9 p.m. and Witch Hazel from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“This is the most entertainment we have had so we hope people come down and support the Festa as well as the local acts involved,” she said. “There is no cover charge so come down and enjoy what goes on under the tent.”
The festival will also include a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.
