LEOMINSTER — Each region of Italy tells its own story through food, music, and culture, and this summer, downtown Leominster will once again echo that spirit with its Third Annual Italian Festival — this year combined with the Cannoli Festival — taking place on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. in quaint Monument Square. (Rain date of Sunday, Aug. 3)
Mayor Dean Mazzarella, joined by a passionate committee of local residents proud of their Italian roots, is excited to invite the community to celebrate the town’s Italian culture.
The Italian Festival Committee is comprised of Mazzarella, Hank Lisciotti, Michelle Nadeau, Melissa Tasca, Tara Lappas, Jim Piermarini, Archie Carboni, Joe Baldassare, Manny Longo, Tom Noto, Nick Pirro, Sr., Jim Candela, Bob Salvatelli, Cheryl Cuddahy, Natale Palermo, Tom Bisol, Angelo Amico, and Ken Lolli.
Lisciotti, a lifelong Leominster resident and dual Italian-American citizen of 23 years, says the event is a way to celebrate and honor his heritage with the wider community.
“Our Italian Festival grows larger each year thanks to the incredible support and enthusiasm from our Italian communities, our hardworking committee, generous sponsors, enthusiastic vendors, and of course, the mayor and his staff,” said Hank Lisciotti, Festival Committee Chair.
Monument Square, adorned with its twinkling lights, will come alive with the aroma of Italian cuisine and the sound of Italian music in the air.
Expect delicious foods such as pizza, eggplant rollatini, chicken parmigiana sliders, fried manicotti, sausage and peppers, meatballs, arancini, and porchetta sandwiches, to name a few.
Specialty offerings include orecchiette pasta bolognese, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi, fried calamari, ricotta gnocchi and more.
Cannoli, tiramisu, zeppole, cookies, and gelato are just a few of the traditional Italian desserts that will be available.
“Starting this year, we’re rolling the Cannoli Festival into the Italian Festival,” said Melissa Tasca, event coordinator, Cannoli Festival. “This will help provide an even bigger and better event with more vendors, more food, and more fun for the community. We’re excited to bring back several of our past Cannoli Festival vendors and are looking forward to having some new cannoli vendors join us.”
To pair with the food and desserts guests can enjoy Italian cocktails, wine, beer, soda, and lemonade.
Italian-themed t-shirts, hats, and polo shirts will also be available for purchase to show off your heritage, or just your love for Italian culture.
Vendors and participants include Main Street Gift & Café, Birds Nest Italian Street Food, St. Anthony Church, Smokin’ Food Truck, Athens Pizza, Benito’s, Central Cup, Il Camino, Roasted Peppers, Paisano’s, Twin Seafood Concord, Bri’s Sweet Treats, Moe’s Fried Dough, Simply Sweet by Christine, Uncle Joey’s Cannoli, Porchetta station, Roma Bakery, Sweet Treats by Kara, Brook’s Mobile Wood Fired Pizza, Classic’s Pub, Tavern 13, Wyman’s Liquors, Olio de Casa, the Center for Italian Culture at Fitchburg State University, Sons of Italy #169, and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
St. Anna Parish will display its statute of St. Anna, with the opportunity to donate, raising money for its food pantry to help those in need.
Live entertainment will be provided by the amazing Italian-American band Ambrosiani, from Providence, RI and Stradella (Antonio D’Eramo) will be playing accordion music throughout the evening.
Bring your chairs and blankets, find a cozy spot on the Common, and enjoy a night of music and dancing under the stars.
Children will be treated to pony rides, inflatable bounce houses, giant Jenga, cornhole, magic shows, a stilt walker and face painting.
“We Italians are proud of our food, wines, culture, and traditions,” Lisciotti added. “Sharing these with our neighbors is a joy. Events like this bring our community closer and open the door to greater understanding and appreciation of one another.”
Mayor Mazzarella and the committee extend heartfelt thanks to the mayor’s office staff, the Department of Public Works, the Leominster Police Department, and the many volunteers and sponsors who make the event possible.
A special thank you to this year’s festival sponsors: Diamond Sponsors: Lisciotti Development and Benito’s Grill (in honor of Frank G. Bovenzi); Platinum Sponsor: The Napoli Group and GeoSearch; Gold Sponsors: Aaron Industries, Fraticelli Oil and Atlantic Tent Rental; Silver Sponsors: Charles River Insurance, Gaylord Pallet (Frank Iacaboni Sr. & Jr.), IC Federal Credit Union, Roberto Baldassarre, and Rollstone Bank & Trust; Bronze Sponsors: All One Credit Union and Wyman’s Liquors (Pleasant Street).
Handicapped-accessible parking will be available between the two downtown churches.
Italian Festival Committee member, Manny Longo, is looking sharp withthis Festa Italiano hat on, at last year’s festival. (COURTESTY OF ITALIAN FESTIVAL COMMITTEE)
Enjoying their time at last year’s Italian Festival is Giuseppe Taibi, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and Hank Lisciotti, Italian Festival Committee Chair. (COURTESTY OF ITALIAN FESTIVAL COMMITTEE)
Dining and Cooking