“Festa Italiana” Returns to Mokena

“Festa Italiana” Returns to Mokena

Festa Italiano, Mokena. Be prepared to have your mouth open in aww when you hear Carmelo Zaccone on the guitar. 1st act of the day and straight from Italy!

Festa Italiano, Mokena. Be prepared to have your mouth open in aww when you hear Carmelo Zaccone on the guitar. 1st act of the day and straight from Italy!

The second annual Mokena “Festa Italiana” will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2015 and is expected to draw an even larger crowd than last year’s 1200 attendees. The event begins at 11:00 am at the Mokena Intermediate School, 11331 - 195th Street (West of the Mokena Library) with a procession ending at the festival grounds at the Front Street Metra Station lot. The festival is based on the traditional Italian Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Festival chairman Vince DiFiori predicts this year’s festival will be better since the number of vendors who have signed on has increased. “We have already surpassed our expectations and donations are pouring in in excess of where we were this time last year.” Traditional Italian foods such as pasta and meatballs, sausage and beef sandwiches, fried dough, pastries and more are all lined up to be served throughout the day. In addition, festival volunteers have also planned multiple activities for kids and families attending including arts and crafts, face painting, a petting zoo and more.

Several musical acts are also scheduled to perform throughout the day on the main stage including local tenor Franco Martorana who will perform traditional Italian opera classics. Tickets to enter the festival are $6.00 a person or $18.00 per family. Following expenses, all funds raised will be donated to various local charities in Mokena and surrounding areas.

Festa organizers have a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/festaitlianainmokena and flyers are being distributed throughout the neighboring communities. Volunteers are also being sought to cover the all-day event. For more information or to volunteer, contact David Molinari at [email protected].

Festa Italiano in Mokena, July 19

Festa Italiano in Mokena, July 19