By Joseph Cannavo, Editor
This month instead of my usual lecture on Italian pride and re-attaching to our heritage, I have researched the festivals taking place in the Delaware Valley this festival season. I hope that our readers will take a moment to look it over and plan a day to attend one or more. Members of the organizing committees work feverishly all year to keep the festival tradition alive for us and future generations. Get out to one and support their efforts. Buon divertimento!
May 6: UNICO spring fund-raiser at Galdo’s, 1933 W. Moyamensing Ave., Philadelphia. Event will honor Rev. Nicholas Martorano, pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, as Humanitarian of the Year. 7 p.m. $40 donation includes a four-hour buffet with hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soda. For tickets call John Ferrara at (267) 278-0825.
May 28: Concert celebrating the music of Verdi, Puccini, Giordano and Mascagni. 8 p.m. Perelman Theater inside Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. For tickets call (215) 893-1999.
June 5: CIAO Delco in Media, Pa., will hold its annual Italian American Heritage Festival starting at 11 am. in Rose Tree Park. Entertainment includes performances by Tre Belle, the Coro Gabrielle D’Annunzio, the Pennsport String Band and Vito Lombardo. See who will be crowned Delaware Valley’s Gravy Master or Meatball War winner of 2016. Learn more at www.ciaodelco.org.
June 12-19: St. Anthony’s Italian American Festival. St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 901 N. DuPont St., Wilmington, Del. (302) 421-3700 or www.stanthonysfestival.com.
July 16: Feast of Mount Carmel, St. Joseph’s Parish, Hammonton, N.J. (609) 561-3012 or www.mountcarmelsociety.homestead.com.
August: Santissimo Salvatore di Montella Festival, Holy Saviour Parish, Norristown, Pa. (610) 275-0958 or www.holysaviour.com.
August: 34th annual Italian Day Festival, Bristol Lions Club, Bristol, Pa. To learn more call (215) 266-3684 or e-mail angelog2@verizon.net.
September: Vendemmia Festival, Philadelphia’s largest fall festival of food and wine. www.vendemmiafoundation.org
September: Fourth annual Padre Pio Festival, Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 10th and Dickinson streets, Philadelphia. Rectory: (215) 334-0159. www.annunciationbvmchurch.org.
September: Padre Pio Italian Festival. 4680 Dante Ave., Vineland, N.J. (856) 691-7526. www.pppnj.org.
September 23-25: Mercer Country Italian American Festival, West Windsor, N.J. Contact John Scarpati at (609) 631-7544 or Buongiorno2000@optonline.net.
September 25: Gloucester County Italian Heritage Festival. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. River Winds, West Deptford Township, N.J. Cathy Dawson, (856) 467-0096. www.facebook.com/GCItalian
October 9: Vendemmia da Vinci, 2 to 6 p.m. in Bellevue State Park, Wilmington, Del. Contact Larry Giacchino at (302) 356-1813 or larryg@carmanautogroup.com.