Italian Festival 2013 will carry on a tradition of more than 20 years of service by Sons of Italy Cellini Lodge #2206 of New Hyde Park when the festival kicks off next Wednesday and continues through Sunday at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park.
This year’s festival will once again feature an international food court with the usual emphasis on Italian cuisine including zeppoles, pizza, cannolis and other pastries. Las Vegas games of chance, including blackjack are also part of the festival, which is the primary fundraiser for the Cellini Lodge.
“It’s a fundraiser for both the lodge and the donations, the charities we contribute to,” said Cellini Lodge President Vincent Illuzzi.
Proceeds from the festival will help support Cellini Lodge scholarships, the Commission for Social Justice, Cooley’s Anemia, Alzheimer research, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, the Marty Lyons Foundation, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the Gift of Sight program OSIA, Italian Language and Culture and Italic studies.
The five-day festival drew more than 10,000 people last year, according to Illuzzi, who said people come from New Hyde Park, Floral Park and the Willistons, as well as from Brooklyn.
“The community really appreciates it. I know because we get a lot of people from the area,” Illuzzi said.
Cellini Lodge 1st Vice President Alfonso Squillante is overseeing the festival last year.
That had been Illuzzi’s responsibility the last two years – an experience that was more nerve-wracking than usual two years ago when Tropical Storm Irene made an ill-timed appearance. The storm cut the festival short by two days, eliminating the heavily trafficked Saturday and Sunday events.
Illuzzi said the Cellini Lodge members will be praying for good weather this year.
“Good weather is always what we need,” Illuzzi said.
Live entertainment is featured for each night of the festival, with The Generators on Wednesday night, Head Over Heels on Thursday, Risky Business on Friday, Don Felice on Saturday and the Bellaires on Sunday.
The hours of the festival are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Wednesday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 16; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17 and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Aug. 18.
In addition to the music, entertainment at the festival features a fireworks display on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday night.
This year’s festival features a selection of rides from Blue Sky Amusements, which has provided the rides at the festival in past years.
A ticket for all the festival rides will cost $30.
Festival-goers can obtain a $5 coupon on the Cellini Lodge Web site at www.cellinilodge2206.org/cellini for a discount.
Admission to the festival is $1 and free to children under eight years old.
Sunday is Community Appreciation Day with free admission and half-price pasta.
Nearly 200 volunteers from the Cellini Lodge will man the booths at the festival, and Illuzzi promises at least one superlative in the Italian cuisine.
“We have the best zeppoles anywhere,” he said.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
