Italian Heritage On Show

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday December 3, 2005

By DAVID BRAITHWAITE

BETWEEN the spaghetti, saints and showbands, the 25th annual Italian Festival in Wollongong tomorrow will be nothing less than bellissimo.

Started in 1970 to preserve Italian traditions among the children of migrants, the festival has changed with the times to embrace new generations.

But tradition remains an important part of the festival, which is organised by the South Coast St John the Baptist, or "San Giovanni Battista" Association.

The festival will begin with a mass, followed by the procession of St John's statue through Wollongong, then entertainment at WIN Stadium.

St John is patron saint of the southern Italian village of Gizzeria, and festival president Luigi Villella recalled leading the procession there as a child.

"I carried the statue back in Gizzeria when I was a kid - we had to bid for the right to carry it. I think I must have saved for a couple of months," he said.

"When we started this festival 25 years ago I was young, now I'm old with no hair, but it helps to keep the traditions alive for today's young people."

The festival will feature a spaghetti race, rides, several bands, including one from Rome, comedian Joe Avati and a "massive" fireworks display. The mass at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral will begin at 1.30pm, followed by the procession of St John's statue to the Sacred Heart Chapel at 2.30pm.

The festival's entertainment program will begin at WIN Stadium from 4pm.

The entry fee is $6, with children under 12 allowed to enter for free.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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