Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Everybody loves a summer festival, and this month features a treasure trove of Italian-themed outdoor celebrations. Buon divertimento!
AUGUST 1
FESTA FUORI at the Mazzini Verdi Club in Franklin Park is sponsored by the Mazzini Verdi Ladies Club. Dubbed “Una Serata di Ballo,” the event features cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. and entertainment by DJ Alex. (630-443-8722, 773-589-0388)
JULY 31-AUGUST 2
FESTA ITALIANA at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford is sponsored by the Greater Rockford Italian American Association. The event features food and beverages for sale, live entertainment, and activities for children and adults. For more, click here.
AUGUST 2
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI VALENZANO at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Melrose Park is sponsored by the Associazione San Rocco di Valenzano. It features a noon Mass, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago. (Frank De Frenza, 630-292-7300)
AUGUST 5-9
THE FEAST OF SAN DONATO at St. Donatus Church in Blue Island is sponsored by the parish. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with a 10 a.m. Mass, followed by a procession featuring Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana. A street festival with food and beverages for sale and live entertainment will run from Aug. 5-9. (708-385-2890)
AUGUST 7-9
FESTA ITALIANA IN HONOR OF MARIA SS. DELL’ASSUNTA in Crest Hill is sponsored by the American Italian Cultural Society. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with an 11 a.m. Mass, followed by a procession. A family festival with food and live entertainment will run from Aug. 7-9. (815-725-7450)
THE FEAST OF SAN LORENZO AND SAN ROCCO is sponsored by the Amaseno Lodge #3 of Chicago Heights. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with an 11 a.m. Mass at the San Rocco Oratory in Chicago Heights, preceded and followed by processions from and to the lodge with the statues of San Lorenzo and San Rocco. A street festival with food and live entertainment will take place after the religious celebration and on the previous two days. (Marco Bravo, 708-557-0786)
AUGUST 8-9
FESTA DELLA FAMIGLIA IN HONOR OF SAN FRANCESCO DI PAOLA at Casa Italia in Stone Park is sponsored by Società San Francesco di Paola. Festivities culminate on Aug. 9 with a procession featuring the Sicilian Band of Chicago at 10 a.m. and a Mass at noon, followed by an open house luncheon in the Community Center, children’s activities, live entertainment, a torchlight procession to Holy Hill and a fireworks display. The feast opens at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 8 with live entertainment followed by a torchlight procession to a prayer service on Holy Hill and a reception in the Community Center. A Triduum will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 and 7. For more, click here.
AUGUST 9
FESTA PICNIC at Hickory Grove Park in Dunlap, Illinois, is sponsored by the Italian American Society. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. and features food and beverages for sale, live entertainment, activities for children and adults, artisan booths, and merchandise for sale. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 12. For more, click here.
AUGUST 13-16
TAYLOR STREET LITTLE ITALY FESTA on Taylor Street in Chicago is sponsored by Onesti Entertainment. The event features food and beverages for sale, live entertainment, merchandise booths, cooking demonstrations, and activities for children and adults. For more, click here.
AUGUST 15
BALLO SOTTO LE STELLE (Dancing Under the Stars) in Stone Park is sponsored by Casa Italia. The event will run from 5 to 10 p.m. and includes wine on table, a buffet-style dinner, and dancing to American and Italian hits spun by DJ Alex. Tickets are $70, with a cash bar. RSVPs are required by Aug 7. (708-345-5933. For more, click here.
AUGUST 16
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. DELL’UDIENZA will run in conjunction with the Feast of San Rocco di Potenza. It is sponsored by the St. Mary of Sambuca Society. (Donna Campise-Tagli, 708-751-2839)
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI POTENZA at St. William Church in Chicago is sponsored by Congregazione di San Rocco di Potenza. It features a noon Mass, followed by a procession with the Sicilian Band of Chicago, the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a family festival with food and live entertainment from noon to 8 p.m. A Novena runs from Aug. 7-15 at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. all other days. An anointing Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Aug. 10. (Sal Aloisio, 773-551-2604)
THE FEAST OF SAN ROCCO DI SIMBARIO at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Chicago is sponsored by the Society of San Rocco di Simbario. It features a 10:30 a.m. Holy Mass, followed by a procession with Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of the holy relic of San Rocco, and a complimentary buffet dinner afterward for all those who participate in the procession. A Novena and Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15, the evening before the procession. (Frank Bertucci, 708-715-6281)
AUGUST 23
THE FEAST OF MADONNA DELLE GRAZIE at St. Alexander Church in Villa Park is sponsored by Società Giovanile M.S. di Santa Caterina Villarmosa. It features a 2:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a procession featuring the Sicilian Band of Chicago. The society is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. (Mario Saporito, 847-962-1251)
AUGUST 30
THE FEAST OF MARIA SS. DEL POZZO at Casa Scalabrini Village in Northlake is sponsored by Società Maria SS. del Pozzo. It features a noon Mass and procession, followed by a dinner at The Empress Banquets in Addison. A 7 p.m. Novena will run from Aug. 21-29 at the society’s clubhouse in Wood Dale. (Anna Rubino, 708-878-9562)
