The 17th annual Italian American Festival of Mercer County will take over the festival grounds at Mercer County Park for three days of music, food and Italian-style. Opening at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, the festival runs through Sunday, Sept. 25.
Created to share and celebrate all things Italian, the festival includes a Food Piazza; an Italian Market with Italian specialty products; a Heritage Pavilion with art, crafts and memorabilia; the indoor Cultural Theater with cultural presentations throughout the weekend; entertainment on two stages including national acts on the Investors Bank Stage; amusement rides; bocce; children’s activities; and the fireworks spectacular on Saturday.
Entertainment
Two stages, including the Investors Bank Stage and the Cabaret Tent, will host three days of continuous entertainment. Featuring a line-up of national performers and local favorites, entertainment includes Enrico Capuano & T-Rock flying in direct from Italy to perform on Friday and Saturday.
Tramps Like Us, the Bruce Springsteen tribute band, takes the Investors Bank Stage on Friday to perform set of Bruce Springsteen favorites. The Greater Kensington String Band, proud mummers who perform annually at Philadelphia’s New Years Day tradition, the Mummers Parade, appear on Saturday.
Headlining on Saturday is Italian American favorite, Michael Amante. Amante sings a repertoire that ranges from Broadway, American standards, gospel and jazz to the soaring notes of high opera.
On Sunday, comedy is featured with Holly Faris, who will bring her many impersonations to the Cabaret Tent. Comedian Uncle Floyd Vivino returns for his second appearance at the festival and Rich Scannella, who has played with Springsteen and recently toured with Bon Jovi, makes his first appearance.
The complete line-up of 35 performances from 25 performers can be found on the festival’s website.
Food Piazza
The festival’s Food Piazza will be filled with more than 40 food vendors serving everything from vodka rigatoni to cannoli. Long-time festival vendors and perennial favorites, Mamma Rosa’s Restaurant and Pete’s Steak House, both located in Hamilton, return with their crowd pleasing menus. They will be serving some of their finest and most popular favorites.
For the first time, DeLorenzo’s Pizza on the Go will be at the festival. An extension of the celebrated eatery on Sloan Avenue in Hamilton, “DeLo’s” on the Go will be bringing their world-famous Trenton Tomato Pie to the Food Piazza.
There will be two Beer and Wine Cafes. Bud Light, the official festival beer, will be served in both cafes along with Birra Moretti, Shock Top, Goose Island IPA, and gluten-free Strongbow Cider. Three varieties of wine from the award-winning Hopewell Valley Vineyards will be served.
Amusement Rides
The festival will feature more than 20 amusement rides from Majestic Midways. Munchkinland is back, featuring attractions and rides for guests too small to ride the main attractions. It includes a soft play area for children under 36″ tall and coin operated rides and games for those under 42″ tall.
Fireworks Spectacular
Italian American Festival of Mercer County Fireworks Spectacular lights up the sky on Saturday following Michael Amante’s performance
Listen and Learn
Presentations will be held all weekend in the Cultural Theater. Located in the Heritage Pavilion, the Cultural Theater’s presentations include “Brief Encounters: The Memoirs of an Italian Grandfather” — a nostalgic, humorous reading by author Michael Riccards, “Flying Colors” a live art performance by John Gowdy, and “Ricotta Made Easy” where you can learn how to make ricotta the easy way with Maria Verzilli.
Learn about a little-explored chapter of Italian American history in the 20th century from Thomas Frascella, and hear the latest news on Italian Americans in New Jersey from the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission.
Shop ‘til You Drop
Shop the streets of an Italian village in the two Italian Market tents with vendors selling traditional and contemporary Italian products. Jewelry and other crafts are in the Italian Heritage Pavilion.
Play
Bocce, located under its own tent on the main festival grounds, is available all three days. Play for fun, join a mini-tournament or watch and cheer.
Pray to Start the Day
Start Sunday with a Catholic Mass at 11 a.m. at the Investors Bank Stage. Then join the recreation of a long time Chambersburg “Feast of Lights” tradition when the statue of the Madonna di Casandrino is carried in procession, complete with a traditional Italian street band.
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The festival will be open 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept.23; Noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24; and Noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 25. Admission to the festival is $5. Children 12 years of age and younger are admitted free. Senior Citizens, 65 years of age and older, pay $4.
The festival is a rain or shine event. Pets are not permitted. Complete details and schedules can be found online. Contact the Mercer County Italian American Festival Association at 609-631-7544 for additional information.
The Mercer County Park Festival Grounds will once again host the annual Italian American Festival from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.,
