The Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association (JUEA) and Adrienne and Co. Bakery Café are hosting the fourth-annual Italian Festival in downtown Jeffersonville from Friday September 27 through Sunday the 29th.
The party—which drew a crowd of 8,000 last year—will take place at 129 West Court Avenue, between Pearl Street and Spring Street. Organizers are planning on a crowd of 12,000 this year.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. Friday and runs until 9 p.m. Saturday’s festivities run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $3 for everyone 6 or older.
If you go, here’s what to expect:
• Authentic Italian foods, pastries, desserts, and drinks
• Live music and entertainment
• Franco Corso, “The Voice of Romance” performing Saturday night
• Spaghetti eating, cake eating, cannoli-eating and pizza dough tossing contests sponsored by Adrienne and Co. Bakery Cafe
• Beautiful Bambino contest
• Children’s games and activities
• Italian folk dancing lessons for adults and children
• Grape tossing contest sponsored by Old 502 Winery
• Hot pepper-eating sponsored by Sancho Miguel’s Salsa
• Arts and crafts vendors
• Bocce courts
According to a news release, Italians have a long tradition in the area, dating back to the late 1800s when they settled downtown near the old Haymarket location to create Louisville’s version of “Little Italy.” While the “Little Italy” of Louisville is long gone, the Jeffersonville Italian Festival 2013 is designed to recreate the feel of a traditional Italian Street festival common to Italian neighborhoods by featuring authentic Italian food and pastries prepared by local Italian restaurants and a focus on the family, just like it used to be in the old days back in Little Italy.
For more information, click here.
