THUNDER BAY — If the 32nd edition of Festa Italiana is a prelude to the return of a normal event next year, organizers will likely be encouraged by the attendance this weekend.
More than 4,000 people showed up at the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma Street for opening day on Sunday.
By early afternoon on Monday, officials were already anticipating attendance on the closing day of the two-day event would be much higher than that if the weather remained favourable.
People were already lining up for food at 11:30 a.m., and event chair Benny Melchiorre said he expected the lineups would continue well into the evening.
Although it's a far cry from pre-COVID years when Festa Italiana attracted 20 to 25,000 attendees, Melchiorre said he was pleased with the turnout.
"We're very happy. Yesterday we had some rain at the peak time, but that didn't chase anybody away. We were busy until nine o'clock and everybody liked the entertainment and the music," he said.
Melchiorre said it's a positive sign for next year.
Referring to the necessity of having a scaled-back version of the festival due to ongoing uncertainty over COVID-19, he said "This is a big change from pre-COVID, but we'll get back to normal. There's one more step. Hopefully next year it will be a regular Festa."
Melchiorre pointed out that it takes six months to plan the event, and at the beginning of the year organizers simply were unable to accurately predict what the ramifications of COVID would be by mid-summer.
He said the team will begin preparations in January 2023 for the next Festa with a view toward arranging the return of entertainers from Italy, booths, children's activities and fireworks.
Although food has always been the main attraction, Melchiorre said what's been missing during COVID has been the social aspect.
"Seeing all the people you don't see during the year, and you come to the Festa and there they are. That's the most important thing. That was the intent of Festa since day one."
One of the loyal attendees is Felix Galeotafiore, who said he'll keep coming as long as Festa Italiana keeps running.
"I enjoy coming here every year. They've got good food. The people here are nice, and the entertainment. Life is good," Galeotafiore enthused.
Melchiore said organizers are grateful for the ongoing support they've received from the community over the past three decades.
