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ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP -- The Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is hosting its second annual Calcutta Fire's Italian Festival at Dunham's Plaza, 15765 state Route170, Calcutta, from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.
The event, which will feature many of the activities it had last year such all-day music, entertainment, Italian food, a beer trailer, king and queen pageant, car show, bar crawl, party bus and after party, is held as a community event to provide the community with a day of Italian food and food and also serves to raise funds for the CVFD to purchase equipment and hosting future events.
There are some new additions to this year's festival which include a car, jeep and bike show; a homemade wine making contest; and a Meatball Roll 5K and Walk.
There is a $5 per person entry fee into the festival. The event is cash only. There will be an ATM on site.
The event gets on a roll with the Meatball Roll and 5K walk beginning at 10 a.m., with registration available up to the start of the event.
Lt. Randy Schneider, CVFD, said for this being the first time the Italian Fest is having the 5K he is pleased with the number of participants which he estimates to be about 60, registered for it already.
Medals will be awarded to winners.
The event officially opens at noon, with Ashley Marina taking the stage to perform until 2 p.m. The Route 45 Band will perform from 2 to 4 p.m.. followed by The Cavaliers Italian Band from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then Hit List (top 40 band) will wrap up the evening from 8 to 10 p.m.
The Car, Jeep, and Bike Show runs from 1 to 7 p.m. and has a $5 per vehicle entry fee which includes one wristband per car to enter the festival.
Awards will be presented to the top 10 vehicles.
The CVFD Italian Fest King and Queen Pageant will take place at 4:30 p.m.
The Homemade Wine Making Contest will be held at 7 p.m. There is a $10 entry fee which includes one wristband to enter the festival.
Entrants must provide one bottle of wine for judging. Awards will be presented for best red, best white and best label.
Registration for the wine making contest must be done prior to 4 p.m. the day of the festival.
Schneider said the idea to add the wine making contest came from him being approached at last year's festival and asking him to hold a wine making contest this year and he thought "why not, might as well try it and see how it goes."
Awards for all contests/events throughout the day will be handed out at 7 p.m.
Food provided by Newell and Negley volunteer fire departments will be available all day.
Schneider, noted that with multiple fire departments participating in the event, multiple fire departments will benefit from the event.
The Italian Fest Bar Crawl can be done by boarding the free party bus which will provide transportation from Dunham's Plaza to A-1 Sports Bar, Case De Emanuel and Saddle Ridge from 3 to 9 p.m.
The CVFD Italian Festival presented by Fairway Chevrolet & GMC Calcutta wraps up with the official after party beginning at 10 p.m. at Saddle ridge.
For any questions or additional information email calcuttavfd@calcuttavrd.com.