Southington's Italian-American Festival Is Set To Return

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

June 3, 2022

The Italian-American Festival is set to return to a three day event this year, say organizers.

The Italian-American Festival is held annually on lower Center Street. The popular event is a celebration of Italian heritage, music and food. It is sponsored by three Italian civic organizations in town – The Sons of Italy, Sorelle d’Italia in America and Southington Unico.

This year’s event will begin on Friday, July 29 from 5 to 10 p.m. It will continue through Saturday, July 30 from 3 to 10 p.m. and Sunday, July 31 from noon to 5 p.m. on lower Center Street. Also, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, there will be an outdoor Italian Mass, followed by a street procession.

The Italian Festival returned last year, after being canceled in 2020 for the pandemic, albeit as a two-day event. This year, it will once again be held over the course of three days.

“We are thrilled to be able to continue to offer the Italian American Festival,” said Tony Cusano, president of the Sons of Italy. “We’re looking forward to another good weekend and fun community event.”

Dawn Miceli, who is in charge of fundraising for the festival, said that the community has remained supportive. She anticipates that it will continue to remain a popular event.

“Every year we draw thousands of families,” she said. “There’s a bit of something for everyone to enjoy. I think that people are excited for a return to normalcy and looking forward to getting out into the community.”

Cusano said that booths along lower Center Street this year will be limited to local non-profit organizations and Center Street restaurants.

“We want to help out our local charitable organizations and help to generate business for the restaurants,” he said.

Miceli added that the intention is to “keep it local.”

“We want the money to go back into the community through our local restaurants, non-profits and civic clubs,” she said.

There will also be traditional Italian music on the main stage and a seating area under a tent where people can enjoy their food and listen to the music. A full schedule of entertainment will be announced closer to the event.

Festival-goers will also be able to look forward to a petting zoo and face painting for the children.

Food options will include suffritto, pasta fagioli, sausage and pepper grinders, squash fritters, prosciutto Panini’s, fried dough, gelato, lemon ice, Italian pastries and San Pellegrino beverages, pizza, fried calamari, meatball subs, Caprese salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, wings and fries.

For information on the Southington Italian Festival, contact Dave Zoni at 860-384-9103 or Tony Cusano at 860-681-3451

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.