The First Annual Italian Festival will be held in Gloucester County (South Jersey),
where 34 percent, or more than 86,000 people - are of Italian descent. That is
the second-highest concentration per capita of any New Jersey county, trailing only Ocean County.

Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like a number of new Italian Festivals are being initiated this year, which is encouraging.

I am reading about the Food and Wine, and assuming Music and Products, but I wonder if there will be Exhibits regarding History or Regions of Italy, or even the History of Italian Americans in Southern Jersey. Featuring Columbus would be a great idea too, since the Festival will be within 2 weeks of Columbus Day!!!

Courier-Post
Deptford
By Steve Levine
Monday, July 12, 2004

The inaugural Gloucester County Italian Heritage Festival will be held this fall.

The event, scheduled for Sept. 26 on the grounds of Gloucester County College, will be a celebration of Italian culture and cuisine akin to traditional street festivals like the Feast of San Genaro in New York's Little Italy and Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hammonton.

"The big thing here is to highlight the culture, to keep the culture alive," said Joseph Picardi, Deptford's township manager, who is helping to organize the festival.

About 34 percent of Gloucester County residents - or more than 86,000 people - are of Italian descent, said Diane Robinson, administrator for the Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Commission. That is the second-highest concentration per capita of any New Jersey county, only trailing Ocean County, Robinson said.

The goal of the festival is to rekindle the cultural pride of local Italian-Americans while exposing non-Italians to the history, customs and cuisine.

"As you assimilate (into the American culture), you kind of lose something," Robinson said.

Officials hope to raise $40,000 to offset the cost of the event, officials said.

To help meet that goal, there will be a wine and cheese fund-raiser Sept. 9 at Auletto's Caterers. All proceeds will defray the cost of the festival, owner Jim Auletto said.

The fund-raiser will feature about 18 Italian wines, as well as 12 to 15 cheeses and prepared meats, a cappuccino/espresso bar and Italian pastries from Termini's in South Philadelphia, Auletto said.

IF YOU GO
A wine-and-cheese fund-raiser will be Sept. 9 at Auletto's Caterers, 1849 Cooper St., Deptford. The $35 tickets are available at the Deptford municipal building or at Auletto's Caterers. For more information, call (856) 845-5300 or (856) 227-3800.

Glouco Italian festival planned
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southjersey/m071204e.htm