2023 DATE: July 21-23, 2023
This post documents my experience on July 21, 2013.
I’ve been to a fair share of ethnic fests in Cuyahoga Falls, including the Oktoberfest and the Riverfront Irish Festival…
…and, like Festa Italiana, they all took place here…
…in the pedestrian area…
…along the shops that put on special deals…
…and the restaurants that changed the flag out front.
But while the other festivals may have also offered…
…similar vendors…
…games…
…and relative spirits…
…Festa Italiana offered more ethnic food, such as Italian sausage…
…pizza…
…pasta…
…baked goods…
…ice and more!
In short, it was an explosion of Italian-American eating…
…where Honey Hut offered pistachio and tiramisu ice cream…
…and even the french fry guy had an Italian last name!
But the culture didn’t stop with the food!
The festival also offered Italian music on two stages…
…witty Italian T-shirts…
…art…
…cigars…
…entertainers in funny hats…
…books on an Italian’s life…
…gambling…
…more entertainers in funny hats…
…and a new way to experience La Dolce Vita.
Maybe I am a little partial, being that I have Italian roots…
…but the festival’s effect was strong enough to push me past the hibachi guy…
…and toward the Mikey’s Late Night Slice truck instead.
Then again…
…I am a sucker for all the sauces.