Annual Italian American Festival begins Friday
Get ready for Central New Jersey’s number one festival as the 17th Annual Italian American Festival of Mercer County, presented by Investors Bank, takes over the festival grounds at Mercer County Park for three days of days of great music, food, and fun… Italianstyle.Openingat3p.m. on Friday, September 23, the festival runs through Sunday, September 25.
Created to share and celebrateallthingsItalian,thefestival 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. The festival will be open 3 to 11 p.m. on Friday, September 23; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 24; and noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 25. Admission to the festival is $5. Children, age 12 years of age and younger, are admitted free compliments. Senior Citizens, 65 years of age and older, pay only $4. Convenient, onsite parking is free. The festival is a rain or shine event with plenty of covered areas for your comfort. Pets are not permitted. Complete details and schedules can be found at www.ItalianAmericanFestival.com. Contact the Mercer County Italian American Festival Association at (609) 6317544 or visit the Festival facebook page for the latest news.
ENTERTAINMENT
Enjoy three days of continuous entertainment on two stages including the Investors Bank Stage and the Cabaret Tent. Featuring a stellar lineup of national performers and local favorites, entertainment includes Enrico Capuano & TRock flying in direct from Italy to perform on Friday and Saturday. T-Rock takes the Tarantella and turns it on its
side by infusing it with highenergy rock and their own brandofgypsymusic.Tramps Like Us, the Bruce Springsteen tribute band, takes the Investors Bank Stage on Friday to perform a rockin’ 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. Called “The People’s Tenor,” and “the Prince of High C’s”, Mr. Amante is a celebrated Italian American singer and stage actor whose voice and presence have captivated audiences
and critics around the world. He sings a repertoire that ranges from Broadway, American Standards, Gospel and Jazz to the soaring notes of High Opera.
FOOD PIAZZA
Thefestival’sFoodPiazzawill be filled with more than forty foodvendorsservingeverything from vodka rigatoni to cannoli. Long-time festival vendors and perennialfavorites,MammaRosa’s Restaurant and Pete’s Steak House, both located in Hamilton, NJ, return with their crowd pleasing menus. Mamma Rosa’s and Pete’s Steak House will be serving some of their finest and most popular favorites. Gaetano’s Restaurant and Market from Red Bank, NJ and Station One Seafood from Atlantic Highlands, NJ will be serving seafood; Buzzetta’s Festival Foods and Mobile Kitchen from Hightstown, NJ; Italian Peoples Bakery from Trenton, NJ; Scala Bakery from North Brunswick, NJ; Maddalena’s Cheesecake from Ringoes, NJ; and Mannino’s Cannoli Express from Pitman, New Jersey will all be offering great cuisine to our festivalattendees.
New this year: DeLorenzo’s Pizza on the Go will be at the festival. An extension of the celebrated eatery on Sloan Avenue in Hamilton, New Jersey, “DeLo’s” on the Go will be bringing their worldfamous 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 glutenfree Strongbow Cider. Three varieties of wine from the award-winning Hopewell Valley Vineyards will be served.
AMUSEMENT RIDES
The festival features 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. There will be a changing station for parents with young children and benches for adults to rest.
Fireworks Spectacular
Italian American Festival of Mercer County Fireworks Spectacular lights up the sky on Saturday following Michael Amante’s performance.
CULTURAL THEATER & HERITAGE PAVILION
Presentations happen 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, Ph.D.; “Flying Colors” an Innovative 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, Esq. Plus hear the latest news on Italian Americans in New Jersey from the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission and enjoy a pizza-tossing demonstration.
ITALIAN MARKET & HERITAGE PAVILION
Shop the streets of an Italian village in the two Italian Market tents with vendors selling traditional and contemporary Italian products. Jewelryandothercraftsarein the Italian Heritage Pavilion.