Put on by Catholic Neighbors in Faith and St James Parish, the festival is set for July 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Event Coordinator Sally Donisi said the whole festival is centered on authentic Italian food and will feature items such as fried dough and pepperoni balls, made from the organization’s own dough. There will also be rice balls, which Donisi said are balls of rice with meat inside, and are always a huge success, along with Cardoni sandwiches, which Donisi added are famous Italian sandwiches that always run out quickly. They are currently taking four sessions to prepare these sandwiches to hopefully prevent them from running out.

Sauce, a restaurant located downtown, will be donating pasta and pizza, and the festival will also include Italian bakery items, cannoli shells, meatball subs, sausage sandwiches and beer and wine. Music wise, Happy Days band will be playing during the festival and throughout the day there will be Italian dance flash mobs. Music will be playing all day, and there will be a kids activity booth from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for free. The event will also include basket raffles, a new prize wheel, 50/50 drawings, raffle tickets, and will be under the big tent at 27 Allen Street.

“It brings people together for a fun event,” Donisi said. “This is a type of festival you do not always see anymore with authentic food. It brings people together in Jamestown and the surrounding areas and is the only Italian Festival around.”

Donisi and the Catholic Neighbors in Faith would appreciate more community help for the festival if anyone is interested in helping to prepare for what Donisi said is a fun event with good food that brings back traditions. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact St James Parish at 716-487-0125.

The festival will include authentic Italian food and music. Submitted photo

With the food and chances to win prizes, along with kids activities, Donisi said people should expect to stand in line at times for a while for some things. Additionally, she said they usually expect around 2,000 people to come through the festival throughout the day, so people should come looking to get the specific things they want as soon as possible.

“People should come out to the festival to experience the authentic foods that a lot of the time you can only get once a year,” Donisi said. “There will be music, and it gives a nice opportunity to sit with your family and enjoy the great food and music in a traditional setting.”

Everything at the festival will be homemade traditional recipes that have been handed down throughout the years. Donisi encouraged everyone to come out and enjoy being together.

“If you’ve never been, come and enjoy it and see for yourself the hard work and traditions,” Donisi said.

The Italian Festival is set to return this July in the city. Submitted photo