Festa Italiana opens to large and hungry crowds

There’s a little Italian in every Thunder Bay resident this weekend.

Business was brisk on Sunday, as hungry patrons flocked to the north side of town for the start of this year’s Festa Italiana, a two-day event that showcases the food, music and culture of Italy – with a few other cultures thrown tastily into the mix.

Emma Ueffing moved to Thunder Bay at the start of the year said she was drawn by the smell of all the food.

“I just love people walking around with really tasty looking food,” said the native of Canning, N.S. “That definitely was what my first impression was.

She didn’t wait long to dig in, starting with a pasta and meatball dish before moving on to a couple of scoops of gelato.

“I think it’s something special,” she said of her meal. “I think it’s probably some of the best pasta and meatballs I’ve ever had.”
Bill Pepler brought his son and nephew to the event, being stages as always at the Italian Cultural Centre on Algoma Street.

It was an easy call, he said.

“Just to enjoy the weather and the atmosphere,” he said.

“We’ve been here pretty much every year since it started, I think.”

Like Ueffing, it’s the food that drew him out.

“You definitely have to come down here and eat, that’s for sure – and to see all your friends and family,” said Pepler, whose personal favourite are the sugar-coated elephant ears.

Vendor Alex Aiello said he expects the party to get really busy on Monday, but wasn’t complaining about the large crowds who came on Day 1.

He said he’s been coming to Festa Italiana since he was a young boy and said it’s great for the entire community.

“What this event does is bring everyone in the community together. It’s a good place to have good food, talk with friends and have great cuisine from all over Italy,” said Aiello, who is spending the weekend selling Italian sausage, pizza and veal – not to mention panzerottis and Italian ice cream.

Organizer Benny Melchiorre said he’s expecting an exciting weekend, with huge crowds, if the opening ceremonies were any indication.
“We’re at two or three thousand people already and if the weather holds up, I think we’re going have between 10,000 to 15,000 people by the end of the day,” he said.

“I think we have the perfect combination. We’re right downtown, we have parking in a walking distance. Our food is good and there’s good entertainment. There’s something for everybody.”

Festa Italian continues on Monday and will feature a spaghetti eating contest at 2:30 p.m.

Admission is free of charge.