Donna DeBartolo remembers coming to Oelwein (IA) every summer as a little girl to be with her grandparents and remember her Italian heritage. This weekend, she will be doing the exact same during the 2026 Italian Heritage Day.
Saturday, Aug. 8, at Red Gate Park in Oelwein, descendants of Italians who currently or formerly resided in Oelwein and the area will meet once again as they bring back the tradition of gathering started by Dominic “Squint” Prillo in 1973. This year will be the 53rd annual celebration of all things Italian beginning at 11 a.m. with a bocce ball tourney.
