Westmoreland Columbus 500 presents:
Italian Day Festa - Friday, August 13, 2010
Delicious Ethnic Food, Entertainment Galore & Fireworks!
An Entire Day of FUN for the Entire Family!
Get Your Discount Tickets - for a list of locations where Italian Day Festa discount tickets are available for purchase for just $20.00, click here.
Delicious Italian Food
No need to pack a picnic basket on this day! Visit the La Cucina where you’ll find plenty of delicious Italian cuisine by:
Rizzo's Malabar Inn
Aroma Italiano
Paradise Catering
Joyce’s Italian Cookies - Don't forget the delicious italian desserts!
Sheetz Bros. Coffeez - a full service, mobile expresso bar staffed by a trained barista!
Entertainment Schedule:
All-Day Entertainment (Noon-10:00 pm)
featuring~
Rocky Chirchiglia Band - Noon - 3:00 pm
Frank Gallo Band - 3:00 - 6:00 pm
Nick Fiasco - 4:30 - 5:30 pm
WLSW "Oldies Record Hop" - 5:00 - 8:00 pm
"Legends of Wrestling" Autograph Session - 5:00 pm
Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe - 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Egidio Faiella- 6:00 - 7:30 pm
ALFIO - 6:30 - 7:30 pm
The Vogues - 8:00 - 10:00pm
FIREWORKS - 10:00pm (Weather Permitting)
We end our evening by "painting the sky" with our beautiful fireworks display accompanied by the music of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Lou Monte and other Italian favorites!Additional Entertainment:
WCNS Radio - Noon-3:00pm
(Live Broadcast hosted by Columbus 500 member Johnny Longo)
Entertainer Bios
The Vogues
8:00-10:00 p.m. Hillside Theatre (Sponsored by WCNS Radio)
For Oldies afficionados everywhere, Turtle Creek's own, "The Vogues"! With their outstanding talent, stylish delivery and excellent choice of material, coupled with their vital, poised performance, has made this one the world's top oldies acts for over forty years! Their fresh, original blend of vocal harmony has left a sound that remains unmistakably THE VOGUES!
ALFIO
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Hillside Theatre
Returning by popular demand for his second appearance at the Italian Day Festa, ALFIO is considered one of the greatest voices in contemporary music today. A true showman, ALFIO pays tribute to artists who have influenced him and his passion for music including Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi and more!
Sydney native ALFIO is reminiscent of a young Dean Martin. With his old-world charm and his confident swagger, ALFIO offers a refreshingly cool and modern throwback to the crooners to which he is often compared. His debut album was released on Warner Music Australia and achieved Top 10 album status and Top 20 on the ARIA charts. This international heartthrob, known as “The Voice of Passion” has graced stages all over the world singing English, Italian and Spanish classics, contemporary songs and Italian folk songs. ALFIO is also an accomplished musician, composer and songwriter, having written “Voce Pura” for Luciano Pavarotti after spending time with him.
Watch ALFIO's video for "Il Nostro Sogno (Our Dream)"
Jimmy Sapienza's Five Guys Named Moe
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Hillside Theatre
Jimmy Sapienza's "Five Guys Named Moe" have quality and punch, plus all the spark of a tightly polished jazz combo. They swing! They rock! Appreciative audiences applaud their expert abilities and musicianship. They even played for the President of the United States!
Jimmy Sapienza is a singer, songwriter, actor, spokesperson and funny-man who leads an award-winning world-class band - - all adding up to one highly entertaining package!
Egidio Faiella
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Pavilion D2
Offering the truly beautiful sounds of Italian and Italian-American music as performed on the mandolin, Egidio continues the musical legacy of the Faiella family. Born and raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, this American-Italian mandolinista vividly remembers the beautiful Italian melodies from his childhood days visiting his grandparents. After inheriting his late grandfather's mandolin, Egidio began to seriously play the mandolin in 1996. Like many children and grandchildren of Italian decent, he was raised on American culture and music. Egidio makes it clear that although he has recorded and produced many different styles of music throughout his life he says "...nothing remotely compares to the feelings I experience when I play my mandolin...I close my eyes and feel like a little boy again...It's the GREATEST feeling!"
Nick Fiasco
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Hillside Theater
Nick Fiasco, the New Voice of Class, Romance and Swing! Performing your favorite hits from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and more!
Frank Gallo Band
3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Pavilion D2
The Frank Gallo Band has been on the musical scene for 40 years. Frank plays trumpet, M trombone and does vocals and comedy routines. His music has always been noted for its versatility and blend of American and Italian songs. The Band is also known for its presentation of ballroom and swing music. Frank has appeared with the likes of Dick Contino, The Gaylords, Four Aces, Carmen Canavo, Al Martino and Jerry Vale. The Frank Gallo Band has played at many ethnic festivals in Youngstown, Columbus, Cleveland, Canton, Pittsburgh, Wheeling and many others! Enjoy the feeling of warmth and friendship with the Frank Gallo Band!
Rocky Chirchiglia Band
12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Pavilion D2
The Rocky Chirchiglia Band has been in existance for five decades. The members of the band are: Robert Rapone on bass guitar, John Creatura on drums and Rocky on guitar and vocals. The Band has entertained many audiences at numerous Italian festivals in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. They are experienced and dedicated to making each engagement a colorful and satisfying event! Dance the day away or simply sit back and enjoy the Rocky Chirchglia Band as they play all your Italian and Italian-American favorites!
Big Friday Night Oldies Record Hop!
5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Pavilion E-1
(Hosted by Gateway High School Class of '67)
In Person from WLSW Radio D.J. "GEORGIO".
Everyone is Welcome!
Meet the "Legends of Wrestling"
“Meet and Greet” with Bill Cardille (WJAS-AM Radio) and the Champions of Wrestling -
beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Pavilion E-2. Scheduled to appear:
Bruno Sammartino, World Champion - 2010 Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
George "The Animal" Steele
Jumpin’ Johnny Defazio
Battling Chuck Martoni
Frank Durso
Bobby "Hurricane" Hunt
Westmoreland Columbus 500
Formed in 1992 by a group of Westmoreland County Italian-Americans, the purpose of the WESTMORELAND COLUMBUS 500 is to:
- Celebrate America's discovery by Christopher Columbus
- Award a full, four-year scholarship to a deserving young Italian-American high school student in Westmoreland County
- Recognize outstanding Italian-Americans of Westmoreland County who have shown outstanding qualities in their professions or way of life
For more information on the Westmoreland Columbus 500, its scholarships, Roots from the Boots, and Italian Day Festa, click HERE.
