Whether you are of Italian descent, have Italian friends, grew up in the neighborhood, or just like Italian food, the invitation is open to everyone to come and celebrate Italian Heritage Day at Red Gate Park this Saturday.
The bocce ball court will be ready for tournament play with registration starting at 10 a.m. The tournament is two person teams, $10 to play with $100 for first place if there are five teams signed up.
In the meantime, the grill will be fired up for Graziano’s Italian sausage sandwiches, meatball subs and hot dogs for the kids. Lunch serving begins at 11 a.m. The new fully handicap-accessible shelter with convenient adjoining restrooms provides the perfect place to enjoy lunch with friends and family. Bring your scrapbooks and family photos to spark conversations and share memories.
After an afternoon of visiting and bocce ball, an outdoor Mass will be celebrated across West Charles Street at Woodlawn Cemetery at 4 p.m. Bring lawn chairs, there are great shady spots from which to celebrate Mass.
Oelwein Italian Heritage celebrations began in the late 1940s, the brainchild of local restauranteur Dominic “Squint” Pirillo, and his family. His descendants continue to be part of the annual tradition along with those of the many other Italian families in the community. Plan to stop out for a sandwich and some conversation on Saturday.
Dining and Cooking