The Mercer County Italian American Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary Sept. 27-29 and is pulling out all the stops with a full lineup of entertainment, food and attractions. The festival was started in 2000 by Festival Association President, Cav. John Scarpati, in direct response to what he felt was the diminishing presence of the Italian American Culture with which he grew up. When complaining one day about his concern. his friends challenged him to do something about it. The festival was his answer.

“I usually don’t back down from a challenge,” said Scarpati, “and I didn’t with this one. I knew nothing about putting on a festival so I traveled around the country to the biggest Italian American festivals, gathered my notes, put together a committee, and spent almost two years planning the first festival in 2000. And now 20 years later, we have put together the greatest festival yet.”