Italy Isn't So Little in Clinton

by Andreanna Smith

The 45th annual Little Italy Festival was in Clinton, Indiana this weekend. Festivities began on Friday night at 6 p.m., with the annual parade, and continued until Monday at 9 p.m. with the Trip to Italy drawing and the annual fireworks finale. At 7:30 on Friday night the Little Italy Festival President and the Mayor welcomed visitors with the introduction of the 2010 Re and Regina and the Queen of Grapes and her royal court. This year the Festival Grape Queen is Michelle Natalie. The Queen of Grapes is a tradition that has been around since the festival started, the queen has responsibilities for the weekend, she along with the annual Re and Regina preside over the many events of the festival. The Re and Regina are kind of like the king and queen of the festival, and even though her title is queen, the queen of grapes is kind of like the princess of the festival. This year, the Re and Regina has been named Dick and Delcie Fossi Meyer.

Some of the festivities that people took part in this year was the annual grape stomping at the wine garden every day at 3:30 p.m. , the Spaghetti dinners , and the never ending entertainment at the main stage. Although the grape stomping is great, many people come for the spaghetti dinner. Sophomore Eleanor Holley admits that her “favorite thing is the annual Sacred Heart spaghetti supper.” A new feature this year was at the wine garden. Over the summer, there was a glass mosaic put in at the back area of the band stage. The mosaic is of a view of Tuscany and looks very nice.

Of course, another festivity that visitors took part in was the food vendors, amusement rides, and shopping. When asked if she would change anything for next year, sophomore Eleanor Holley stated, “I’d have less food vendors and more local shops, that way more people would come again. It was pretty dead this year compared to years past.” In fact, it did seem as though this year was lighter in the crowds than usual, but there were still a lot of people, that could be because there weren’t as many tents for shopping as there were food vendors.

If you are interested in going next year, the festival is always on Labor Day weekend on the banks of the Wabash in Clinton Indiana.

Picture: The Re and Regina ride the gondola in the Little Italy Festival Parade. (picture taken by Andreanna Smith)