The sights, sounds and flavors of Italy will return next week as the John Michael Marino Lodge No. 1389 hosts its 45th annual Italian Festival.
The four-day Port Washington festival is scheduled for Sept. 10-13 at Town of North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 West Shore Road, bringing Italian food, live music, carnival rides, shopping, cultural activities and fireworks to the waterfront.
The festival began in 1979 and has grown into one of the area’s annual community traditions.
“Our Italian Festival is a wonderful tradition that brings the community together while helping us raise funds for scholarships and local charities,” said Tony Cavallaro, president of the John Michael Marino Lodge. “We invite everyone to join us for great food, outstanding entertainment, family fun, and a memorable weekend celebrating our Italian heritage.”
Food will be a major part of the festival, with vendors serving Italian favorites including pasta dishes, meatball heroes, eggplant parmigiana, rice balls and sausage and peppers. Fresh zeppole will also be available, while the pastry tent will offer cannoli, Italian pastries, cappuccino, espresso and coffee.
Visitors age 21 and older can visit the beer and wine tent, featuring Italian and domestic beers, red and white wine, and peaches with wine.
The entertainment lineup will include DJ and live karaoke Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m., followed by Decadia from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday. Saturday will feature the LI Rewind Band from 2 to 5 p.m. and Any Way You Want It from 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday will include live accordion music at 1:30 p.m. and Pane E Cioccolato from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
A fireworks display is scheduled for approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Blue Sky Amusements will provide carnival rides throughout the festival, including the Italian-made Titan thrill ride. Pay-one-price wristbands will be available each day for unlimited rides.
Beyond food and entertainment, the festival will highlight Italian heritage and culture. A heritage and culture tent will feature Italian artifacts, opportunities to discuss Italian culture, photo opportunities and a scavenger hunt for children. Vendor booths will offer jewelry, handcrafted items, toys, treats, specialty merchandise and gifts.
The festival is the lodge’s largest annual fundraiser, with proceeds supporting scholarships, charitable giving, community initiatives and Italian heritage programming.
Through its affiliation with the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the lodge has awarded nearly 500 scholarships and awards to local high school students. Festival proceeds have also supported organizations including the Port Washington Ambulance Fund, Port Washington Library Foundation, Port Washington Youth Activities, CancerCare’s Port Washington-Manhasset Chapter, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society.
The lodge also offers free Italian heritage and culture programs throughout the year, with additional programming during Italian American Heritage and Culture Month in October.
Festival hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
More information is available through the John Michael Marino Lodge’s Italian Festival website and its Facebook and Instagram pages.