THUNDER BAY - Benny Melchiorre’s initial idea for Festa Italiana was to have it be like “a big family reunion.”
Twenty-seven years later, the family continues to grow through different cultures and different generations.
“If the weather co-operates with us we usually get about 22,000 people,” the Festa chair said at a press conference on Thursday.
The current radar suggests a 40 per cent chance of showers on Sunday before transitioning to clear skies for Monday.
This year’s Festa will feature a variety of entertainers, dancing, beer gardens and fireworks. There’s also a trip for two to Italy to be won, with proceeds going toward the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
“We try and have something different every year to attract different people and make it interesting,” Melchiorre said.
Of course, what keeps people coming back are the recipes that will remain unchanged for as long as Festa exists.
“Our most popular is the gnocchi, lasagna, penne, meatballs,” Melchiorre said. “You see people who moved away come back to town for it.
For good reason, too. Melchiorre said the kitchen staff at the Italian Cultural Centre spends about three months preparing for the event.
“We sell about 5,000 pounds of gnocchi, penne, and meatballs," he said. "That’s a lot of meatballs.”
Melchiorre says each and every year, the hard work helps bring the community together.
“On Sunday and Monday night, you will see thousands of people laughing and dancing,” he said. “For us, that’s our reward, that’s our driving force.”
Admission to the event is free, and will begin on Saturday.
