Vince Putignano watched his father Andrew’s face during the performance of the Italian national anthem at a festival in Pittsburgh’s Strip District many years ago. “The pride my dad saw that day when he looked at my grandfather during that song inspired my father to start an Italian festival in Vandergrift,” said Vince Putignano’s son, Brian, who is president of Festa Italiana di Vandergrift. “It was my dad’s dream to have a festival in our community of Vandergrift.”

That dream became a reality. The 16th annual Festa Italiana di Vandergrift is Aug. 11. Held in Kennedy Park, it’s all things Italian. “This is such a wonderful community event that I don’t want to see it end,” says Brian Putignano, who grew up in Vandergrift and now lives in Allegheny Township. “It’s a lot of work, but we have so many wonderful volunteers who believe in this festival.”