Once again the smell of homemade spaghetti, meatballs, muffulettas and other Sicilian cuisine along with cheers and laughter will fill the streets of Independence as the town holds its annual Sicilian Heritage Festival this weekend, March 7-9.
Folks from Independence and beyond attend the festival every year to celebrate the culture, accomplishments, music and food of their ancestral Sicilian families who settled in the town and throughout Tangipahoa Parish.
This year’s 16th festival King Jerome Guzzardo recalled that what he always finds unique about Sicilian Fest is the food, and he cherishes memories of when his kids were at Mater Dolorosa Catholic School and together they would help the school sell spaghetti, gravy, meatballs and eggs then watch the attendees eat and enjoy.
Guzzardo added that this year’s food selection will become more unique with the feature of fresh homemade bread. While the bread was made for last year’s spaghetti cook-off and last week’s as well, this will be the first time homemade bread will be available over the festival weekend. He recalled that at the cook-off there were at least 50 loaves of bread that did not last long because everyone wanted a piece.
“You’ll be able to go to that booth and buy a loaf of that homemade bread or get you a slice or two to then put your olive oil and your cheese on it – and then get to it,” Guzzardo said.
Other foods available will be pizzas, eggplant sticks, sausage poboys and lasagna. Guzzardo recommended guests try each and every one of those foods if they attend.
Besides eating, attendees can participate in two food-based competitions the Sicilian Festival hosts.
On Saturday, the Spaghetti Eating Contest and the Meatball Toss will take place at 11:30 a.m.
Accompanying these traditions, the weekend will include the customary parade led by Grand Marshal Michael Polito with Guzzardo, and the 16th Sicilian Festival Queen Allie Landry and Madré Cathy Phillips.
The parade rolls at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Sicilian dancers will perform, straight from Italy, on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Music performances will include Zack Mannino, The Seymours, Peyton Falgoust, Rockin’ Dopsie and many more who will serenade the crowds in Independence.
While people listen to the live music they can visit arts and crafts booths, play games and ride amusement park rides throughout the weekend.
On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., the fest will also host a raffle for a trip to Sicily, for attendees to perhaps visit their ancestral home
Polito reminisced that the festival has always remained family-oriented through the years, allowing all members of the family to take a part in the fun the Sicilian Fest has to offer.
In fact, the festival is where he met his wife of almost 38 years; he considers that his favorite Sicilian Festival memory.
“Our festival is very family-oriented, and it shows our culture and what we’re all about,” said Landry.
As Sicilian Fest queen, she visited other festivals and promoted her home festival and also competed at the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Convention.
This isn’t her first time as part of the Sicilian royalty; she was first part of it when she was 4 years old, in 2009.
For more information and a full schedule of bands and events, see the festival’s website at https://www. indysicilianfest.com/ or the Facebook page, The Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival.