Italian American Veterans plans Festa Italiana

Party with pasta, honors for business owners

The Italian American Veterans Post 1 will have its annual Festa Italiana from noon to 8 p.m., Oct. 9, at its post, 4567 Oberlin Ave.

The day includes performances by the Al Battistelli Band in the afternoon and the Avanti Band from 4 to 6 p.m.

At 3 p.m., post members will honor brothers Pete and Joe DelMonico, who have operated their barbershops in Lorain and Vermilion, respectively, for more than 50 years.

There will be 50-50 and basket raffles and a tribute to Marie Bonaminio, the late Lorain businesswoman and longtime supporter of the Italian American Veterans.

Some of her paintings will be available for a raffle, and the post will have her spaghetti sauce for sale.

Admission is free, and the menu includes food, Italian baked goods and wine for sale.

Meatball or sausage sandwiches are $6, Italian wedding soup is $4 and dinners with meatballs or sausage and garlic bread are available for $8.

A la carte foods will be meatballs at two for $1 and sausage links for $2.

Lorenzo’s Pizza also will serve its pies.

The Festa marks the return of an in-person party for the post, said Bambi Dillon, president of the ladies’ auxiliary and men’s quartermaster.

Italian American Veterans Post 1 canceled the event in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus, Dillon said.

“It should be a fun day,” Dillon said.