If you can’t make it to Rome or Venice this year, not to worry. The Mercer County Italian American Festival brings the old country to Mercer County Park. For three days, the Park becomes an Italian marketplace with food, art, music, amusements, bocce and, on Saturday, a huge fireworks show.

Each day, the festival kicks off at 10 a.m. with non-stop entertainment on three stages, all with an Old World connection. Just take a look at this year’s performance line-up – baritone Franco Corso and tenor John Carelli both do justice to the great Italian operas, Joe Cofone who keeps the legacy of the great crooners going, pianist Maristella, recording artists Tre Bella, EuroRythms, and at least half a dozen other artist who fly in from Italy just for this festival.

Meanwhile, over at the Pelletiari, Rabstein and Altman Cultural Center, you can learn the art of traditional Venetian mask-making from Italian artists or enjoy accordion and mandolin seranades. Oh, and when you see Christopher Columbus who will drop by for a meet and greet, you can ask him about life aboard the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria.

This is not the time to count calories. And really, how could you when the food tent is packed with chefs who serve everything from gnocchi, veal & peppers, and roasted peppers & sausage to spumoni, tortoni and cannoli. If you are really worried about it, just join in the games of bocce and burn off a few calories.
You could easily spend all three days there but if you can only do one, be there on Saturday night when they set off a huge fireworks display.  It is no wonder AAA named this as one of the Top Ten events in the Mid-Atlantic region.