Back for its fifth annual celebration of the colorful culture of Italy, the Italian Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, September 13th from 11am to 4pm. While the fun and fabulous food factor will remain the same, the festival is moving its location to the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn.

What has made the festival so popular is that it offers something for all ages and interests. It educates while it entertains, it appeals to all the senses, and best of all, no one walks away hungry. "Italians are all about food and family so that is what we are doing with this festival while at the same time raising money for local charities," said Paul Caimano, event manager. Paul expects a crowd of about 4,000 this year and has hopes of one day expanding to a weekend long festival.

Food booths will line the Honey Horn pathways with local restaurants serving up portions of their signature dishes. Festival goers can look forward to a wide variety of choices like homemade Italian sausage by Grandma Battaglia and frozen treats from Pino Gelato and Frosty's. Also on hand will be Island favorites like Frankie Bones, Giuseppe's, Wise Guys, La Fontana, New York City Pizza, Joe Loves Lobster Rolls, Mulberry Street, Stellini, Trattoria Divina, and Michael Anthony's.

While we all enjoy eating Italian food, we certainly cannot make it like they can, and thus the festival will include cooking demonstrations. The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head (IAC) will also have someone on hand preparing traditional Italian dessert favorites like cannoli and zeppoli.

"These are both a crowd favorite to sample. They love it," commented Paul.
Because all good Italians know that there is more to Italy then just their fabulous food, the festival will have other educational booths set up too. Island Travel will be there showcasing Trips to Italy and driving enthusiasts will be greeted by both fashionable and fun with a Fiat booth and one by Motorini displaying their Vespas. The IAC will have a hospitality booth manned by an Italian expert to answer questions about family heritage. New this year will be a Piatti booth showing off
hand-made ceramics from Sicily. Other Italian merchandise and tee shirts will also be sold.

Entertainment for the day will include music and good sport. A bocce court will be set up and there will be a dunk tank as well as a pizza wheel where patrons can win gift certificates to local pizzerias. Competitions will include grape stomping and pizza eating and the kid's zone will keep the younger crowd busy with plenty of inflatable fun. Christopher Columbus will be a faithful festival attendee again this year as he mingles and takes pictures with everyone. A Silent Auction will feature an array of items including rounds of golf, gift baskets, and trips. This year's musical entertainment will come from a professional couple singing Italian songs as well as 104.9 The Surf and SC 103.

The festival is put on by The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head and they all pitch in to pull it off. All proceeds go to local charities. "When you have a good product, a good committee and good people, it's not hard," said Paul. "We also have a good purpose and try and help the charities any way we can."

Tickets are $5 at the gate and in advance and parking is free (handicap parking is available). For more information, email or call Paul at [email protected], 412-897-1148.

Source: Italian-American Club of Hilton Head