Celebrate Italian American Heritage Month!

OCTOBER 2/9/16/23/30
Who: Casa Italia
What: Essential Italian-American film series
Where: Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia (Stone Park)
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Contact: 708-345-593
Details: “Pane Amaro” on Oct. 2; “The Italian Americans, Part I” on Oct. 9; “The Italian Americans, Part II” on Oct. 16; “And They Came to Chicago: The Italian American Legacy” and “5,000 Miles From Home” on Oct. 23; “Prisoners Among Us” on Oct. 30.

OCTOBER 3
Who: American Italian Cultural Society
What: 97th Columbus Day Banquet
Where: Holiday Inn & Suites (Joliet)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: $75 per person (cash bar)
Contact: 815-585-5854
Details: The event will feature cocktails, dinner, scholarship presentations, a raffle, entertainment and dancing. Sponsorships are available.

Who: Casa Italia
What: Sabato Culturale
Where: Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia (Stone Park)
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Contact: 708-345-5933
Details: Author and educator Eric Dregni will read from his book, “Raising Bilingual Bambini.”

Who: Greater Rockford Italian American Association
What: Hall of Fame and Special Recognition Award Dinner
Where: St. Ambrogio Club (Rockford)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: $50
Contact: kkcantele22@gmail.com, griaa.org
Details: The event will include cocktails, dinner and award presentations.

Who: Maria SS. Della Croce Society di Triggiano
What:  100th anniversary celebration
Contact: 630-596-7414

Details: Noon Mass and procession at St. Philip the Apostle Church (Addison), 6 p.m. banquet at The Empress Banquets (Addison) featuring visiting dignitaries from Triggiano, cocktails, dinner, entertainment, dancing and a raffle.

Who: Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club
What: Italian Heritage Celebration Ball
Where: Mazzini Verdi Club (Franklin Park)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: TBD
Contact: 630-443-8722, 773-589-0388
Details: The event will feature cocktails, dinner, entertainment and dancing.

OCTOBER 4
Who: Greater Rockford Italian American Association
What: Hall of Fame Mass
Where: St. Anthony of Padua Church (Rockford)
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Contact: kkcantele22@gmail.com, griaa.org
Details: Mass will be celebrated, followed by a short ceremony in the church’s Memory Garden.

OCTOBER 9
Who: Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
What: Flag-Raising Ceremony and Weekend Kick-Off Party
Where: Daley Center Plaza, Chicago
Time: Noon
Cost: Free
Contact: 708-450-9050, jcc@jccia.com, jccia.org
Details: To officially kick off the Columbus Day weekend, the JCCIA will host a festive ceremony featuring proclamations by elected officials, inspirational music and the raising of the Italian flag above Daley Center Plaza.

OCTOBER 10
Who: Casa Italia
What: Sabato Culturale
Where: Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia (Stone Park)
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: Free (donations appreciated)
Contact: 708-345-5933
Details: Brian Bernardoni will talk about Italians in Chicago politics.

Who: Hardcore Italians
What: Columbus Classic Bocce Tournament
Where: Elmwood Park Community Rec Center
Time: 8 a.m.
Cost: $220 per team
Contact: vpascente71@gmail.com, 815-274-9235
Details: More than $4,000 in cash prizes. Two-game guarantee. Food, drink and team T-shirts provided. Raffles and giveaways. Sponsorships are available. The public is invited to attend.

Who: Italian American Labor Council of Greater Chicago
What: Dinner Dance
Where: Drury Lane (Oakbrook Terrace)
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $185
Contact: 312-339-1437, 630-853-9052
Details: The event features cocktails, dinner and entertainment. Bob Morreale, executive director of the Concrete Contractors Association of Greater Chicago, will be honored.

OCTOBER 10/11/13/16/18/23
Who: Greater Rockford Italian American Association
What: Additional Italian American Heritage Month events
Contact: griaa.org
Details: Milwaukee bus excursion, Oct. 10; cooking class with Maria Tarara Caruana, Oct 11; paint and sip with Angie Scordato, Oct. 13; wine tasting, Oct. 16; Italian cooking class with Mimi Leombruni, Oct. 18; movie screening: “A Chiara,” Oct. 23.

OCTOBER 11
Who: Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
What: Presidents’ Ball
Where: Belvedere Banquets (Elk Grove Village)
Time: 5 p.m.
Cost: $120
Contact: 708-450-9050, jcc@jccia.com, jccia.org
Details: Presidents of local Italian-American organizations will join forces with elected officials from every level of government to welcome delegations from the region of Campania and Italy to this elegant gala.

OCTOBER 12
Who: Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
What: Columbus Day!
Contact: 708-450-9050, jcc@jccia.com, jccia.org
Details: 9 a.m., Columbus Day Mass, Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii; 10:30 a.m., Wreath-Laying Ceremony in Arrigo Park honoring Italian-American veterans; 11:45 a.m., Opening Ceremony, Dearborn Street and Wacker Drive; noon, Columbus Day Parade, Dearborn Street from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street; 2:30 p.m., Post-Parade Reception, Rush Street.

OCTOBER 16-25
Who: Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans
What: Chicagoland Italian Restaurant & Cafe Week
Contact: jccia.org/chicagoland-italian-restaurant-week/
Details: Italian Restaurant & Cafe Week features some of Chicagoland’s best Italian restaurants, cafes, delis, bakeries and more, offering you great deals for an entire week during Italian American Heritage Month!

OCTOBER 17
Who: Casa Italia
What: 55th Anniversary Gala
Where: Carlisle Banquets (Lombard)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: $150
Contact: 708-345-5933, gala@casaitaliachicago.org, casaitaliachicago.org
Details: The event will feature cocktails, dinner, entertainment, dancing and raffles. Vito Moreci and family of Roberto’s Ristorante in Elmhurst will be honored. Sponsorships are available.

OCTOBER 18
Who: Cegliesi Italo-American Association (CI-AMA)
What: 52nd Anniversary Celebration in honor of Maria SS. di Buterrito
Where: The Empress Banquets (Addison)
Time: 1 p.m.
Cost: $100
Contact: 708-785-8794 and 773-551-1404
Details: The event will feature a Mass and procession followed by cocktails, dinner, entertainment and dancing.

OCTOBER 21
Who: The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
What: A celebration of the 80th anniversary of Mother Cabrini’s canonization
Where: Salon 61 (Chicago)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: $250
Contact: cabrininationalshrine.org
Details: The event will feature an open bar, passed appetizers and family-style dinner. Monsignor Kenneth Velo will serve as emcee. Sponsorships are available.

OCTOBER 23
Who: Justinian Society of Lawyers, DuPage County Chapter
What: Halloween Costume Charity Ball
Where: Venuti’s (Addison)
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Cost: TBD
Contact: dupagejustinians@gmail.com, dupagejustinians.com
Details: The event features a reception, dinner, entertainment and dancing. Proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

OCTOBER 31
Who: Casa Italia
What: Sabato Culturale
Where: Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia (Stone Park)
Time: 11 a.m.
Cost: $20, includes lunch
Contact: 708-345-5933
Details: Italian Cultural Center Librarian Dominic Candeloro and Fra Noi genealogist Dan Niemiec will run a genealogy and family-history workshop.

Who: Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club
What: Un Ballo in Maschera Halloween Party
Where: Mazzini Verdi Club (Franklin Park)
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: TBD
Contact: 630-443-8722, 773-589-0388
Details: The event will feature cocktails, dinner, entertainment and dancing.