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Now, that's Italian

At the San Gennaro Festa, eat, drink and play. It's all for a good cause.

By Terri Bryce Reeves, Times correspondent
Published February 15, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Douglas R. Clifford | Times (2007)] Rosalie McGinnis, left, and April Brown perform a traditional Italian folk dance with the Tarantella Dancers at last year's San Gennaro Festa.

CLEARWATER - At the fifth annual San Gennaro Festa, you can do as the Italians do: stomp grapes, savor ethnic foods and wine, and enjoy good times with friends.

"It's an educational and entertaining event that's fun for the whole family," said Brian Craig, Clearwater's events coordinator.

The city and Le Italo-Americane Di Oggi (LIADO), or Italian-American Women of Today, sponsor the Old World event, which is Saturday and Sunday at Coachman Park.

This year, the Buckinghams, known for their '60s hits Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song and Kind of a Drag, headline the event. Original band members Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna are both Italian, Giammarese said. They are scheduled to play Saturday afternoon.

Look for other Italian singers, tarantella dancers, meatball- and cannoli-eating contests, bocce ball, a genealogy booth and children's activities, such as puppet shows, inflatables and crafts. Performers include the vocal group Bella Sorella, Jim Andy, Dino Diliberti, Danielle Grabianowski and others.

A car show will include swanky Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Ferraris, Maseratis and other Italian marques.

As for those New Year's diets? Leave 'em at home.

There will be fresh pastry and bread, sausage and peppers, calamari, lasagna and shrimp scampi to enjoy.

Admission is $4, and proceeds go toward college scholarship programs, a class for the autistic at the Paul B. Stevens Jr. School, the Children's Cancer Research Group at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital and other causes, said Carole Cosenza, LIADO board member and co-chair of the event.

"In the 14 years we've been in existence, we've given away over $47,000 in college scholarships," she said.

The independent organization counts about 155 members who meet in Dunedin and Port Richey.

Members of the club will demonstrate how to make homemade pasta and pizzelles (waffle cookies). They also plan to cook and sell zeppole, deep fried confections often called Italian doughnuts.

The festival pays homage to San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, who brought rain in times of drought, Cosenza said. A processional and blessing begins about noon Saturday.

The festival was once a September event, but after two hurricanes in 2004, organizers moved the dates to weather-friendly February.

The idea behind the celebration is to embrace all the positive contributions of Italian culture and heritage, Cosenza said.

"To me, it's like going home," she said.

Check it out

'Mangia' to your heart's content this weekend

The fifth annual San Gennaro Festa takes place in Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., in downtown Clearwater.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4.

Go to www.sangennarofesta.com for parking information and map. Call (727) 562-4700 or (727) 418-2737 for more information.

[Last modified February 14, 2008, 21:28:25]