LOWELLVILLE — The village will be full of excitement once again at the 126th Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival next month.

The announcement comes after organizers decided to cancel the annual festival last year, only having a members-only parade in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re ready to go. We’re excited to be back and keep the 126th year going,” Dave Gagliano, president of the Mount Carmel Society in Lowellville, said.

The festival is scheduled July 14-17 along Washington Street and the society’s grounds.

Lowellville Mayor Jim Iudiciani is ready for festivities.

“I’m very happy we could bring back our traditional 126th festival this year,” he said.

Throughout the year and the months leading up to the decision to move forward, Gagliano said he and organizers stayed in contact with vendors as well as other decision- and policy-makers.

“We listened to the governor closely, and we talked with the Mahoning County Board of Health,” Gagliano said.

Once the decision was made last month to move foward with the festival, things became easier because various health orders were lifted at the state level, Gagliano said. “We figured since we’re already prepared, we could probably” have the festival.

Organizers also looked at how other groups have led their festivals. Church festivals in surrounding areas succeeded, Gagliano said, encouraging organizers to go ahead with the Lowellville fest.

Vendors are excited, he said. For many, this will be their reintroduction into the festival season since 2019, and for others, the Mount Carmel Festival will be the first outing of this year.

“It’s good to help out locally,” Gagliano said.

Many vendors have been in business for years, and he hasn’t spoken with anyone who has had to quit their business, Gagliano said. “We’re all thankful that no one had to close up shop.”

For Iudiciani, the family atmosphere of generations-old traditions is a key part of the festival.

“I’m looking forward to seeing our families and friends at the celebration,” Iudiciani said.

There will be signs posted around reminding people of safety precautions, and if people want to wear masks, they are encouraged to, Gagliano said. “COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared,” he said.

Perhaps one of the most beloved traditions associated with the festival is the Baby Doll Dance. During the dance, a person whirls around inside the doll while fireworks explode along the length of the dolls arms, spraying sparks and bathing the dance area in smoke before a final volley of rockets fires out of the costume’s head.

“We definitely are having a Baby Doll Dance,” Gagliano said, but specifics are still being ironed out.

afox@vindy.com