Festival: Italian Festival
Why you should go:
Buon appetito! At the Italian Festival, you can chow down on fresh pasta and pizza. The weekend event hosted by St. John the Baptist parish will also feature a parade, music and dance performances, and a bocce ball competition.
What to eat & drink:
Pizza lovers, take note: The Italian Festival is the only time of the year that St. John serves its famous Sicilian-style pizza. Other popular Italian vendors will include Berwick Party House and Carfagna's Supermarket.
Entertainment:
Ordinarily you'd have to visit the Italian Alps to see folk group Sot La Nape. The 30-member song-and-dance troupe is making its first trip to the U.S. for the Italian Festival, where the group will perform each day.
In addition to a variety of other music and dance performances, check out the American-Italian Idol competition. Italians and non-Italians between the ages of 15-26 can sing songs in Italian for a chance to win $1,000.
Don't miss:
You literally can't miss the 800-pound meatball, Columbus' attempt to break a world record. The meatball will be officially weighed at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, and profits from the brown behemoth will support the Columbus Italian Club's scholarship fund.
Italian Festival:What you need to know
When: Friday-Sunday, Oct.8-10
Where: Hamlet and East Lincoln streets, Italian Village
Cost: $5. Children under 12 are free.
Parking: At Sacred Heart Church or The Anchor Companies