For the 42nd consecutive year Holy Rosary Parish Ansonia will celebrate its Italian heritage with “Festa! 2009 Italian Festival.”
The festival opens on Thursday, Aug. 6 and runs through Saturday, Aug. 8 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. each evening on the parish grounds on Father Salemi Drive downtown Ansonia.
The Italian festival features home-style gourmet Italian foods cooked by their own chefs, live musical entertainment each night, rides for children and games of skill for everyone.
The festival grounds are paved and flat providing easy access for everyone.
“There are two things that make Festa! so popular each year. First is the nice friendly atmosphere. Here you can just kick back and relax while you enjoy the music and food,” said Ron Balabon, festival chairman.
He added that the second reason for the popularity of the festival is the food.
“We cook our own food,” Balabon said. “We don’t hire outside vendors. Think about it, we have our own people preparing great Italian dishes using their own recipes just like they do for their own families. That’s good eats!”
Special musical entertainment is featured each night.
Local entertainers Mark Lanzieri and Tony Santoli open the festival each night with Sinatra songs and Italian favorites.
Great Italian singers, I’Liguri , headline Thursday evening’s entertainment from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday is a special night with a special performance by Mark Lanzieri and the Steve Moran Band.
Headlining Saturday’s entertainment is a group making its Festa! debut, the high energy DeNovo.
Admission to Festa!2009 is free. For more information visit: www.holyrosaryfestival.com
