Collinsville's Italian Fest Italian Fest Parade Features a Wedding—Now That's Amore!
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Put on your red, white and green and come visit Metro East’s Premiere Festival! Labeled “Best Festival”- Riverfront Times What’s New: September 17 & 18, 2010 A Wedding to take 11 am-10 pm Friday & Saturday place in the Parade Wine Tasting Event in Collinsville’s Italian Fest Conjunction with Wine Contest Hospitality Tent For Sponsors Diaper Dash Kids Fun Run WIL’s Derrick Keith Live Broadcast The Italian Fest includes such features as the 5K Run-Walk with a Kids Fun Run and Diaper Dash, continuous entertainment on two stages, Bocce Ball Tournament, homemade Craft Area, Grape Stomp, Parade, Wine Garden, Wine Making Contest, Little Miss/Mr. Italianfest Pageant, Hospitality Tent and Children‘s Area. But the real calling card of the Italian Fest continues to be the authentic Italian fare including Fest favorites like spedini, Italian beef, spumoni, bagna cauda, and Italian Ices. Inside this issue: Italian Fest Parade Features A Wedding—Now That’s Amore! Charities That 2 A real-life ―That‘s Amore‖ wedding will take place at this year‘s Italian Fest in Collinsville, IL during the annual parade on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010 at 4 p.m. Benefit From the Molly Philips, age 20, originally from Granite City, and Carl Kelly, age 28, of Belleville, will be Italian Fest exchanging their wedding vows in a not-so-traditional manner this year. The first-time wedding Pre-Fest Events 3 couple has chosen to be wed on a parade float that is being pulled down Main Street of Collins- ville during the city‘s biggest party with thousands of their known and not-yet-known friends in Entertainment 4 attendance. Schedule When ―That‘s Amore‖ was announced as the theme of this year‘s Italian Fest, the idea was given to find one or multiple couples to be married at this event. The parade chairman, Pastor Headline Bands 5 David Amsden, began putting out the word that a couple was needed. Who did David call first? The churches, of course, and that is when Wayne Reid, Pastor of Gathering Place at 2016 Keebler Rd in Collinsville, called back and said that he had found a Children’s Area, 6 couple thrilled with the idea. Grape Stomp, & The couple has been engaged for a while and waited to be married until they could afford the Wine Contest wedding of their dreams. They felt this setting would provide the celebration they wanted as well as a reception that will be second to none. The reception will be immediately following the pa- Bocce Ball 7 rade at the Venezia Stage, complete with a DJ, bubbles, photographer, cake-cutting, first dance, etc. - everything you expect to find at a traditional wedding, but in an exaggerated setting! The couple will spend one hour at the Italian Fest reception before returning to Gathering 5K Run / Walk 8 Place Church for a smaller, private reception. Fest History Contacts: David Amsden (Parade Chairman) 618-531-0764; Wayne Reid (Pastor performing ceremony) 618-604-7372. Page 2 September 17 & 18, 2010 Charities that Benefit Where Does the Money Go? From the Italian Fest: Boy Scout Troop 30 From local school pro- Valenti said. ―But it‘s written underprivileged families with Boy Scout Troop 48 grams to American troops into Italian Fest bylaws that a shopping trip for clothing at Collinsville Chamber serving overseas, proceeds the purpose of the Fest is to Christmas. of Commerce from Collinsville‘s Italian Fest assist social and civic or- ―We don‘t exclude any of Collinsville are directed back into the ganizations raise money that Emergency community to a variety of helps all aspects of the Col- the children from a family,‖ Management Agency local charities and not-for- linsville community, which is she said. ―It‘s a great pro- gram.‖ Collinsville Progress profits. why our vendor fees are nominal.‖ Catholic Charities That still comes as a sur- The Collinsville Character Collinsville Explorers prise to many in the commu- In addition to vendor Education Community Task Force, a group of business CHS Literacy nity and that‘s what sets this booths, several civic groups and community representa- Program annual event apart from are also paid to perform tives and educators, volun- Collinsville High other large-scale festivals. some operational chores at the fest such as clean-up so teers to sell spaghetti to help School Band "People call all the time and promote the Character Edu- Collinsville Jaycees that ―even a portion of the ask where the money goes operational costs go back to cation program in the com- Collinsville Junior from Italian Fest - as if it all the community organiza- munity and help get the mes- Service Club goes to one place,‖ said tions,‖ she added. sage out,‖ said Chairman Collinsville Kiwanis Wendi Valenti, executive Steve McArthur. Collinsville Noon director for the Chamber of Joe Hutton, 2010 Italian Commerce. Fest general chairman, said Mission of Moms uses Lions proceeds from selling Papa Collinsville Rotary what sets the Collinsville Most vendors at the 40 Italian Fest apart from other John‘s Pizza and Florentine Collinsville VFW 5691 booths are volunteers work- grand-scale community sarsaparillas to fund postage Community Character ing on behalf of civic organi- events is both the revenue costs for supply packages to Education Task Force zations or charities. For- that returns to local civic and troops stationed in Iraq and Cub Scouts Pack 48 profit vendors are required to charitable organizations as Afghanistan. donate at least 50 percent of First Baptist Church well as the tremendous num- their profits to a charity of ―We use proceeds to pay Gaslight Swim Club ber of volunteer hours that for postage – which was their choice, and Italian Fest makes it all possible. Gateway FC Soccer guidelines require proof after $1,094 last month – or for Club the event that the charity ―There‘s no way an event whatever supplies are Good Shepherd listed received the funds. of this magnitude of the Ital- needed to send to our Lutheran School ian Fest would exist without troops,‖ said Marcia Fish, of More than $1,000,000 has countless hours from volun- Metro Glass Service and Immigrant and been raised over the years Mission of Moms. ―Several of Refugee Women‘s teers,‖ he said. ―Italian Fest by these vendors. Those them are local and I really Program is a unique conduit to chan- funds help bolster the pro- enjoy it when they are from Jefferson PTA nel financial resources back jects of area organizations into the community with help the area because I have a Juvenile Diversion and charities. This year, from volunteers. In these chance to meet them. But I Kahoks Wrestling signs at booths will let fair- difficult times, that is even send to others too.‖ Knights of Columbus goers know exactly where more valuable.‖ the proceeds are directed, Volunteers work hard two Knights of Columbus days setting up for Italian Ladies Auxiliary Ms. Valenti said. One rough estimate calcu- lates it takes 6,000 volunteer Fest and then staffing the Mission of Moms Italian Fest itself is funded hours to plan and deliver the booth to be able to raise Mother of Perpetual primarily through sponsor- Italian Fest each year. That‘s money for their organizations Help Catholic Church ships, beer sales and nomi- equivalent to three people and charities. A partial list of National MS Society nal booth fees. This income working full-time on an an- beneficiaries is on the left. – Gateway Area is required to cover major nual basis! Chapter operational expenses includ- Pirate‘s Baseball ing entertainment, portable Ginger Trucano, a board restrooms, trash removal, member of the Collinsville One rough estimate Raider‘s Wrestling security, rentals, in addition Kiwanis and chairman of the calculates it takes 6,000 Riverbluff Girl Scout to advertising and marketing Kiwanis Italian Fest booth, volunteer hours to plan Council the Fest. said the sale of bagna cauda and deliver the Italian Shriners in their booth helps the or- Fest each year. That’s ―Most major festivals have Special Olympics ganization fund an important equivalent to three for-profit vendors that pay project providing children of people working full- United Way thousands in booth fees,‖ time on an annual basis. Page 3 Little Miss & Mr. Italian Fest Pageant Little Miss and Mister Ital- rade. All pageant participants sented by the Miner‘s Insti- ian Fest pageant is open to receive a gift bag. tute Foundation and CARD. children in the metro-east Because of renovation at area who will be 4-years old Miner‘s Theatre where the and not older than 8 on the pageant has historically been pageant date, Sept. 11. Five held, this year‘s pageant will finalists will be selected in be held in the Mississippian each division (5 girls, 5 boys) Room at the Gateway Center. and each finalist will receive Registration packets can be a participation medal. One downloaded at girl will win the title of Little www.italianfest.info or on the Miss Italian Fest, while one Miner‘s Institute website, boy will be named Little Mis- before the Sept. 1 deadline. ter Italian Fest. Winners Or, packets can be picked up receive a trophy, crown, at the Chamber office at 221 sash and other prizes and West Main or the CARD of- ride in the Italian Fest pa- fice, 10 Gateway Drive. Pre- Annual Exhibition and Italian Film The Men of This year‘s exhibit, “Men Monday through Thursday PG-13 with a parental cau- of the Mines,” begins Sept. from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday tion -- and not recommended the Mines 1 and runs through the entire and Saturday from 9 a.m.