Youngstown Italian Fest makes 39th appearance
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The 39th Greater Youngstown Italian Fest opens Friday downtown.
The opening ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Friday with the man and woman of the year honorees and Youngstown State University scholarship presentation, but the festival vendors will be open for lunch, and afternoon entertainment includes The Feral Cats and Rex Taneri on the main stage and performers Nico Ruggieri, Henry Eduardo and Nick Salpietra around the square.
The annual morra contest starts at 7 p.m. Friday, and main stage entertainment features Vintage Vinyl at 7 p.m. and The Cugines at 9 p.m.
Saturday's programming includes contests for pasta eating and the makers of hot peppers, biscotti and wine at 3 p.m.
Ruggieri, Eduardo and Marco Fiorante perform on the square, and the main stage lineup brings Butch Nichols Band at 1:30 p.m., Jim Frank at 4 p.m., G-4 Live Band at 6:30 p.m. and No Funk No Justice closing the night at 9:30 p.m.
The festival's final day will start with a Catholic Mass at noon and a processional featuring the Lowellville Band.
The Little King & Queen Pageant starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and the main stage will host performances by Avanti Band at 4 p.m., RDNA at 6:30 p.m. and The Houseband at 9 p.m.
Until the festival ends, Federal Street will be closed from Phelps Street on West Federal until Champion Street and East Federal. Market Street will be completely closed between Federal and Boardman Street and only open to Doubletree hotel traffic from Federal Street to Commerce Street. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Sunday and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 11 and younger. No one ages 17 and younger will be admitted without a parent present. For more information, go to youngstownitalianfest.org.