Ishpeming Italian Fest to celebrate 125 years in the U.P.

ISHPEMING, Mich. (WJMN) — You don’t have to be Italian to come out and enjoy the live music, food and fireworks Saturday, July 27 at the Al Quaal Recreation Area, where the St. Rocco-St. Anthony Society will hold its 125 th annual community picnic.

Each July, the Italian Fest in Ishpeming is a way for Italian Americans to honor St. Rocco and St. Anthony and to celebrate their Italian culture with friends and family, but the festivities are open to everyone and there is no admission fee.

From bingo and a bounce castle to games of chance and food vendors, there will be something for everyone at this year’s event.

Jim Bertucci, the President of the St. Rocco-St. Anthony Society, said he’s especially looking forward to the fireworks show this year, which will happen Saturday at dusk.

“It’s going to be a big display,” he said. “It’s going to be lots of green, white and red, and that’s Italian colors. So come out and enjoy that.”

The community picnic will begin at noon, with live music starting at 2:30 p.m.

At 5:00 p.m., the returning Diamanti band from Chicago will play, and following them at 7:30 p.m. will be local band DayDreamers.

More details about this year’s event and the full music line-up can be found here .

The Italian Fest is one of the St. Rocco-St. Anthony Society’s largest and most visible events, but they also provide various works of charity to the community.

The organization’s full title, the Italian American Mutual Aid Society of St. Rocco and St. Anthony of Padua, reflects its original purpose: to be an aid society for Italian Americans.

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