Festa Italiana returns to Cuyahoga Fall this weekend, but the commemoration began on Wednesday.
The 2012 Outstanding Merit Award Recipients, Victor J. Donatelli, Domenico Iannacchione, Dominic Rizzo, Sr. and Mary L. Scarpitti (click on each name to read his or her story), were announced on Wednesday at the pavilion at Falls River Square.
This year's scholarship recipients were also named.
They were Kelsey Christine Blatt from Tallmadge High School who will attend Baldwin Wallace, Andrew David Padula from Archbishop Hoban High School who currently attends The Ohio State University and Hannah Nicole Segers from Northwest High School and will attend Eastern University.
For the fourth year, the smells, sights and sounds of Italy will fill the Falls River Square on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as bocce balls collide among the aroma of homemade Italian delicacies, wine and oven-baked pizza.
The three-day event with live music and authentic food is free to the public.
Festivities kick off Friday with Massillon’s own La Flavour headlining the amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. The band draws on 45 years in the business to provide a wide variety of popular music.
The music continues throughout the weekend at the Amphitheater, the Fountain Stage and Midway. Featured performers include Italian Tenor Teo, Claudia Sala from Sicily, Mike Tricaso, Italian-Australian singer-songwriter Alfio, mandolin player Guy DiIorio and the “Ambassador of Italian Music to America” Moreno Fruzzetti, complete with orchestral accompaniment.
A bocce tournament will be held at the Clock Tower on Saturday and Sunday. Texas hold ‘em tournaments also will be held daily at 2 p.m. at the Pavilion.
Catholic Mass will be held at the Amphitheatre at 11 a.m. on Sunday, followed by family activities including grape stomping, cooking demonstrations, Jungle Terry and a magic show.
