Festival will have both new and returning favorites

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Preparations are well underway for Youngstown’s historic Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival kicking off this week downtown.

Everything starts Thursday and will feature vendors, Italian food and entertainment every day. Attendees will see things at the festival that they’re used to, but this year, there are new foods to try, new business vendors and a new theme.

“Our theme this year is ‘La Tavola,’ which is the Italian table, so we are focusing on families around the table. In our historical area, we have asked parishioners to contribute pictures of their families. The theme is both relative to our faith, as well as our family,” said Festival Chairman Scott Schulick. “Our children’s area is expanded this year. We also have a new food vendor Yosteria, which is a popular eatery.”

Eventgoers can expect traditional Italian food, Italian cocktails, a regular bar, Italian pastries, a few rides for the kids, along with games and bounce-a-rounds. There will be a nightly raffle and a grand raffle worth $5,000.

There also be several singers and bands taking the stage, such as Moreno Fruzetti, The House Band, Butch Nicols, the Jim Frank Combo and more.

There is limited parking near the church grounds, but the bulk of the parking will be downtown in the IBM and Commerce Building parking lots, the Social Security lot, the Levinson Tire Lot and the lots by Choffin Career Center. The festival will also provide two buses and golf carts that will serve as shuttles.

WKBN First News Anchor Lindsey Watson and First News This Morning Meteorologist Annie Giovannucci will take part in the Prince and Princess Pageant on the festival’s opening day.

The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival runs Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28 on Via Mt. Carmel Avenue in downtown Youngstown. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. On Sunday, everything begins at 11 a.m. with a Mass from Bishop Bonner, followed by a procession down Via Mt. Carmel Avenue. The festival will then run from 1 p.m. until 9 pm.

The cost is $5 per person, and children under age 12 are free.

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