If Italian cuisine is your thing, the Italian American Fiesta in Dunlap was the place to be

DUNLAP (25News Now) – The Italian American Fiesta was held at Hickory Grove Park in Dunlap on Sunday.

The annual festival held by the Italian American Society in Peoria featured a spaghetti eating contest, as well as authentic Italian dishes such as a meatball sandwich or an Italian sausage sandwich, and live music performed by Italian singers from Chicago.

The IAS Corresponding Secretary, Rhonda Parker, said it’s important to keep the legacy of Italian immigrants from the early 20th century alive, because people are far removed from those times.

“It’s just important that we keep those people in mind,” she said. “It’s the heritage, the culture at the forefront, and we need to celebrate everything great about being Italian American.”

Parker also said the goal was to have 600 to 800 people attend, which is the annual count, but the weather may have reduced those numbers.

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