“Sustain Traditions” is the motto of the Ulster County Italian American Foundation, which hosts this festival of Italian cuisine, culture and music every year on the Kingston waterfront: a natural location for an Italian Festival, with over 150,000 Italian Americans in Ulster, Orange and Dutchess Counties.
The day begins with the conferring of the Foundation’s Signore and Signora of the Year and Italian Pride Community Service Awards; 2019’s Signore is Norman Staffing Services president and former Kingston Hospital CEO Tony Marmo, while LabCorp account executive and UCIAF secretary Linda Palladino has been designated the Signora.
After the formalities come the frivolities: live music all day on two stages plus dance troupes and buskers in the streets, storytelling, raffles, pizza-tossing demonstrations, spaghetti-eating contests and copious amounts of food in general. Admission is free; check the website at https://ucitalianamericanfoundation.org to see the full schedule.
Also, in conjunction with the Ulster County Italian Festival, the Hudson River Maritime Museum will host a kid-friendly event where children create a miniature replica Verrazano-Narrows Bridges. Under the supervision of museum educators, children will learn about Giovanni da Verrazano’s exploration of the North American coastline 75 years before Henry Hudson sailed in the area. Children will then participate in a STEM activity designed to teach them about bridge engineering. The program will run from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 13 in the East Gallery of the Maritime Museum. There will be snacks available, as well as stories related to the program. The event is geared toward children ages 5 to 12. The program costs $5 for non-members and is free for members. Please visit www.hrmm.org for more information.
Italian Festival
Sunday, October 13, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Rondout waterfront, Kingston
https://ucitalianamericanfoundation.org