The Watkins Glen Italian American Festival Planning Committee will present the Watkins Glen Italian American Festival, taking place at Clute Park, Watkins Glen on Friday, August 13th, and Saturday August 14th. This rain or shine event will feature great food, family fun, vendors, music, carnival rides, and fireworks show (Saturday, August 14th at 9:30 PM).
The festival also includes a parade which will occur on Saturday, August 14th, starting at 12:00 PM Noon, to celebrate our essential workers. This parade will take place down Decatur Street in Watkins Glen, starting at 15th street and ending on 5th street. Grand Marshals will include Jr. Specchio and Vera Franzese along with Olympian, women’s eight rower and Watkins Glen native Olivia Coffey.
The Watkins Glen Italian American Festival will be celebrating our community and the success of the event, by toasting to the festival with members of our community on Saturday, August 14th at 1:00 PM in front of the Clute Park Pavilion.
The fireworks show to cap off the festival’s events will occur over the south end of Seneca Lake at Clute Park, Watkins Glen, on Saturday, August 14th starting at 9:30 PM.
The Watkins Glen Italian American Festival Planning Committee is proud to bring this festival to Clute Park, Watkins Glen, after a year’s hiatus! The Watkins Glen Italian American Festival is a community event for all ages and will host carnival rides, a festival food row, a vendor marketplace, a beer garden, two performances from local bands – The Ampersand Project and The Variables, Italian music and entertainment, and fireworks show to end the festival. The festival is also partnering with Schuyler County Health and Arnot Health to host two walk-in vaccine clinics at the Clute Park Pavilion.
Parking for the event at Clute Park will be $5.00 per vehicle when parking at Clute Park, proceeds from parking go to the Watkins Glen Italian American Festival’s community involvement and fundraising. Carnival ride bands and tickets will be sold at the event. There is no cover charge for the bands. Beer tickets will be sold at the event within the beer garden tent to those over 21 years of age. All other events within the festival are free and open to the public.
The Watkins Glen Italian American Festival, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation operated by a volunteer staff of committee members, who donate their time, energy, and labor twelve months of the year to prepare for the annual event. In addition to the festival staff, volunteers help on the festival weekend. Our goal is to provide a fun-filled family atmosphere and has become a traditional gathering spot for thousands who return each year. We strive to provide something for everyone to enjoy. Proceeds from the festival are provided to local charities, and funds for scholarships for graduating seniors in all Schuyler County School Districts (Watkins Glen Central and Odessa-Montour Central).
For more information visit, Watkinsglenitalianfest.com or follow Watkins Glen Italian Festival on Facebook.
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