Much more than food will be available at the McAlester Italian Festival’s 50th Anniversary celebration — although there will be plenty of food, too. Everything from music to arts and crafts, a car show, carnival and helicopter rides are part of this year’s event.

This year’s two-day festival is set for Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, at the Southeast Expo Center and the Pittsburg County Fairgrounds, with the festival starting in the morning and continuing into the night. It marks the first time the Italian Festival has been held in three years, with the 2020 and 2021 festivals canceled due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Organizers said there is lots of enthusiasm for the festival’s 2022 return.