Celebrate Italian Culture and Cuisine at the Vibrant Italian Festival
(Aired October 1st 2023)

The upcoming Italian Festival in Kingston, New York, set to take place on October 8th, is generating excitement with its vibrant celebration of Italian culture. Organized by the Italian American Foundation, the festival will be held on the picturesque Kingston waterfront in Ulster County. It aims to celebrate and preserve Italian heritage, featuring an array of Italian food vendors offering everything from sausage and peppers, meatballs, pizza, and calzones, to mac and cheese, cannoli, espresso, and fried dough. In addition to the Italian delicacies, the festival will cater to diverse tastes with food trucks serving Jamaican, Mexican, and other cuisines. Local restaurants like Mariners Harbor and Savona's Pizza will also join the festivities.
The festival won't just be about food; there's an impressive lineup of entertainment and fun activities planned. Visitors can enjoy performances by opera singer Andrew Holben, the jazz quartet Leonisa Ardizon, the flamenco Italiano band Vince Chiarelli, and a tribute to the Rat Pack by Michael Dell. The headliner for the event is Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses, ensuring an upbeat and lively atmosphere. Additionally, a second stage will feature artists from O Positive, showcasing a variety of music genres including Portuguese and Brazilian folk, West African, Mexican folk, and jazz.
For those interested in other types of cuisine, there will be a farmer's market with fresh veggies, and non-Italian food options like hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, and jerk chicken. Beverages won't be left out, with beer and wine available, and Medza Corona as a sponsor.
Transportation to the festival is well thought out, with buses provided by Ulster County Rural Transportation to ease the parking challenges. The festival is poised to become an annual highlight, offering a day filled with continuous music, a variety of food options, and cultural exhibits. There will even be a spaghetti-eating contest for the more adventurous attendees.
For more information about the festival, visitors can check out the Ulster County Italian American Foundation’s website. With its combination of delicious food, entertaining music, and cultural richness, the Italian Festival in Kingston is an event not to be missed.
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