BY BILL BRADLEY
Come celebrate everything Italian this weekend.
Bob Armiento, chair of the publicity committee for the 33rd annual Caruso Club Italian Festival, says everyone is welcome to join the celebration of Italian food, culture and friendship at the popular cultural centre, located at 385 Haig St., off Lorne Street in the city?s West End.
The long-running event is a highlight of the city?s summer festival season.
The festival officially kicks off Thursday evening with a boxing card at the Caruso Club as members of an Italian boxing club will take on local fighters.
Eating wonderful Italian food remains a focal point of the festival, said Armiento.
The food fair is open for business Friday at 5 pm in the parking lot outside the Caruso Club.
Included is cuisine from Calabra, Fogolar Furlan, Veneta and Marchigiana, says Dolores Dini, membership chair of the Caruso Club Ladies Auxiliary.
?Watch for the Italian cheese, polenta, from the region of Fogolar Furlan. But all the food is very delicious. The Caruso Club cooks will be serving up their own favorite dishes. It is amazing how fast the food disappears,? she said.
The annual Italian Festival beauty pageant will once again be a popular hit with contestants on Friday evening starting at 7:30 pm.
Saturday visitors can eat porketta and sausage at the noon-hour barbecue and enter the walk and run at 5 pm to trim the waistline after tasting the fantastic food all day.
At 9 pm, the crowd will be entertained with Italian music in the big tent in the parking lot.
The traditional Italian Mass kicks off Sunday?s festivities at 10:15 am inside the Caruso Club, followed by brunch in the Upper Caruso Hall at 11:15 am.
The traditional dance always attracts a large crowd and this event will begin at 7 pm Sunday, said Armiento.
Sudbury teacher Rosanna Battigelli, author of Mama Mia, Good Italian Girls Talk Back, appreciates the camaraderie at the event.
The festival helps unite the thousands of citizens of Italian descent spread across the community, she said.
?I?m from southern Italy and my husband is from the north of the country so we have a lot of friends to see. Of course we?ll looking forward to sharing in the festivities and the food from the different areas,? she said.
Children will be entertained by a fish pond and youth games on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm.
On Saturday, from 1 to 2 pm, former Sudbury Wolves captain Zack Stortini, burgeoning star Nick Foligno and head coach and general manager Nick Foligno will be on hand to sign autographs.
There will be a Nintendo challenge, face painting, minnow races, tattoos and crafts for children all weekend.
The festival winds down Sunday night with a grand Festival Raffle draw at 11 pm.
Most events, apart from the meals, are free.
The amateur boxing card, featuring eight bouts, has a $10 admission. The run/walk event has an $8 entry fee or $10 on the day of the race.
For more information, phone 675-1357 or visit www.carusoclub.ca.
