Italian Festival takes place Sunday
The Ninth Annual Italian Festival, presented by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rondout Waterfront in Kingston.
The festival will feature more than 35 vendors, along with a large variety of Italian foods, beverages, products, music and family fun. The event begins with an opening ceremony that will recognize the Italian Signora and Signore of the Year, an honor bestowed on the recipients’ community service and volunteering to assist those in need in Ulster County. This year’s honorees will be Emanuele Savona and Jeanette Provenzano.
The reigning Miss Italy New York will be on hand to meet and greet festival goers. Several musical performances will take place during the day at T.R. Gallo Memorial Park, 1 Broadway. The headliner will be Steven Maglio, known as a performer of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin music the way they intended it to be performed. He will be accompanied by The Michael Dell Orchestra, a 12-piece big band that will open the show by playing swing time favorites.
Other musical acts slated to perform include the Hotrod band, with Pete Santora of Beatlemania performing a tribute to John Lennon and John Henriksen performing the music of Jim Morrison and The Doors. Traditional and modern Italian music will be performed by Roberto Milanese and Angela Bruno. In addition, there will be an operatic performance with coloratura soprano Kelli Butler accompanied by maestro Douglas Martin, joined by tenor Andrew Hoben and soprano Ali Bailey and featuring a special appearance by Andrea Shaut’s Hudson Valley Recital Project.
Street performances are also planned, including accordion music by Nick Collins, fire breathing by Corey Glover and New Genesis Italian Comedy. In the Hudson Valley Maritime Museum’s home port, thee will be Italian storytelling by Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi and Karen Pillsworth. Chef John
Novi will discuss his food tour of Italy, which was featured in The New York Times. Maryann Faluotico DeGroot and others will share their favorite Italian recipes.
A children’s tent will offer educational activities and face painting. Admission to the festival is free.
Proceeds from the festival will be used to establish the Ulster County Italian American Foundation Education Awards Funds for graduating Italian-American high school seniors throughout Ulster County who exemplify the values and vision of the foundation in their community.
Visit ucitalianamericanfoundation.org for more information.