Italian Fest Opens Today
By CASEY JUNKINSArticle Photos
Fact Box
TODAY'S EVENTS
- 9 a.m.: Bocce Tournament
- Noon: Opening Ceremony
- 12:30 p.m.: Ron Retzer
- 1 p.m.: Loretta and Ellie
- 1:30 p.m.: Catch Blues Band
- 2 p.m.: Peter Teris
- 3 p.m.: Hot Pursuit; Italian Demonstration
- 4 p.m.: Kristen Allodi sings the songs of Italy
- 5 p.m.: Ronnie Fiorentino
- 5:30 p.m.: Mirella the Musician
- 7 p.m.: Vincent Pastore and The Bada Bing Band; Allegro Dance Co.
- 8 p.m.: Rocky Chirchiglia Band
- 9:30 p.m.: Legend
WHEELING - Pizza, pasta and paintball are just some of the food and activities awaiting the 150,000 people Robert Gaudio expects to attend this year's Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival.
Opening ceremonies for the 27th annual three-day festival are set for noon today at Wheeling's Heritage Port.
"We work all year to make the festival the best we can make it, so we hope for good weather," said Gaudio, festival chairman.
Vendors are scheduled to operate 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and Saturday, with hours set for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. There is no admission fee for the event.
"Anyone who steps on these grounds is an 'honorary Italian' during their time here," Gaudio said.
Festival Coordinator Kim Smith said one new feature this year is a game geared to draw the attention of teenagers and young adults that she described as "paintless paintball."
It will take place in a parking lot near WesBanco Arena.
"It is just like paintball, but without the mess of the paint," she said in explaining that participants will receive 100 pellets to shoot.
They must also wear the same protective equipment used in regular paintball competition.
Cost of the game is $10 per round, and players must be at least 12 years old.
Even with the myriad of culinary options available to festival patrons, those who are really hungry may want to enter the pizza eating contest, set for noon Saturday. For a $15 entry fee, contestants will have three minutes to devour as much pizza as possible, with the winner to be awarded a medal and a certificate good for one free pizza each month for one year.
Another new feature set for this year will be the appearance of the No. 33 NASCAR vehicle, driven by Clint Bowyer. One of the car's sponsors is BB&T. The car is set to be on display from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
This year's opening ceremonies are set for noon today. Other opening day highlights include bocce tournaments, as well as musical performances from Loretta and Ellie, Ron Retzer, Catch Blues Band, Peter Teris, Hot Pursuit, Kristen Allodi, Ronnie Fiorentino, Mirella the Musician, Allegro Dance Company, Rocky Chirch-iglia Band and Legend.
Fans of the hit television series "The Sopranos" will want to visit the festival at 7 p.m. today, as actor Vincent Pastore and The Bada Bing Band will perform at the waterfront.
There also are numerous events and performers set for Saturday and Sunday. Actor Joe Piscopo will serve as Saturday's master of ceremonies.
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justmytake
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07-24-09 9:34 PM
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This is a very nice event. I little too crowded though. Like Yogi Berra once said no one goes there anymore because it's too crowded. If the rain holds out, with the cool weather this could be a record year.
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rogers7
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07-24-09 1:18 PM
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I would suggest that anyone who wants to have a nice time at the Italian fest should plan on going during daylight hours.
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Captain
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07-24-09 1:02 PM
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The people who attack our town are those who are still trying to justify their choice to leave. To Alexander: Lei ha provato di insultarci?
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Enough
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07-24-09 11:27 AM
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I think the whole valley is Italian this weekend.
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HettysMom
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07-24-09 9:57 AM
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Yikes, acmooregov, no sooner does ChaplineRow compliment our city, you have to attack immediately on where he/she has been and what he hasn't done for the city. Be gracious and take the freaking compliment. This is a light story about the ITALIAN FESTIVAL, supposed to be fun. This is not about economic decline or development. Quit being so stodgy. I'll buy you a beer at the festival so you an lighten the h*ll up. Welcome back ChaplineRow and enjoy the festival.
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GDsfinest
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07-24-09 9:20 AM
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Check out Dash Rip Rock at the North end of the festival as they perform live for WKKX....they are four rockers from G-town.
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acmooregov
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07-24-09 8:47 AM
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Investments are what is needed! Do you not realize that WV and Wheeling (except the Eastern Panhandle, might as well be Maryland and Virginia) have been losing population for about 25 years? If Charleston goes below 50k in 2010 (the only chance it won't is with City-County merger, smoke and mirrors) WV will be only the second state in the US with no city population over 50K. Buying food and China Mart crap will not fix the problems! Welcome back, now you can help with paying for those schools! Educate the youth for the youth movement out!
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ChaplineRow
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07-24-09 7:35 AM
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AC: You are assuming there is a nest egg. No big nest egg but more about ones roots I suppose. Self-employed but at age 63 do not plan on a new career. Realize that the more natives who come back without burdening the school systems inject money into the local economy from real estate to restaurants, etc hopefully creating a need. Wheeling is a ideal town for retiring babyboomers. Like it or not they tend to have saved some money and will spend it. Wouldn't it be nice to see downtown the way it was in the 50's and 60's with speciality shops, antique mall in the old GCM building, etc. Personaly I think the Chamber of Commerce should target this growing market.
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acmooregov
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07-24-09 7:06 AM
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Welcome back! Probably retired with a nest egg from employment in those other states. Will you be investing in any new business ventures or just sitting on that nest? Remember as the working tax payers continue to leave the state and Wheeling, taxes will have to be raised on the retired people. Still not much work in Wheeling and doubt that will change anytime soon!
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ChaplineRow
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07-24-09 6:59 AM
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Wheeling never ceases to amaze me at all of the activities going on through out the summer months for a city of its size. I have lived in five states from Maine to Florida but grew up in Wheeling. My family has moved back and I know several others like us who have moved away and are coming back after many years. There is no such thing as the perfect place to live but wheeling is a great little town..
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