Italian American Festival returns this weekend

WATKINS GLEN--After a year off due to COVID, the Italian American Festival is coming back to Watkins Glen with minor changes on Friday, Aug. 13 and Saturday, Aug. 14 at Clute Park. With traditional Italian food, music, a parade and fireworks, attendees have many options to plan their weekend on Seneca Lake.
"It's great to have the Italian American Festival come back, and it will be great to show off to everyone who comes how great the new event center and the changes at Clute Park are and bring thousands of people into the park," said Mayor Luke Leszyk.
Deputy Mayor Louis Perazzini, who also serves as the President of the Italian American Festival, highlighted the importance of Italian immigrants who came to Watkins Glen long ago to work in the salt mines.
The event opens at noon on Friday, Aug. 13 and will run until 11 p.m. There is a 7:30 p.m. concert featuring The Ampersand Project.
On Saturday, the festival opens at 10 a.m. Highlights of the day include the parade at noon to celebrate essential workers. The parade will take place on Decatur Street in Watkins Glen, starting at 15th Street and ending on 5th Street. Grand Marshals include Jr. Specchio and Vera Franzese along with Olympian, women's eight rower and Watkins Glen native Olivia Coffey. A toast for the festival will occur at 1 p.m. Saturday in front of the Clute Park Pavilion. The festival concludes with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. and a concert by The Variables from 7:30 to 11 p.m.
The festival has also partnered with Schuyler County Health and Arnot Health to host two walk-in vaccine clinics at the Clute Park Pavilion. They are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday and 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday.
Parking for the event at Clute Park will be $5 per vehicle, proceeds to go to the Watkins Glen Italian American Festival's community involvement and fundraising. Carnival ride bands and tickets will also be sold at the event. There is no cover charge for the bands. Beer tickets will be sold within the beer garden tent to those over 21 years of age. All other events within the festival are free and open to the public.
For more information visit, Watkinsglenitalianfest.com or follow Watkins Glen Italian Festival on Facebook.