Mahopac Chamber Park was packed for the Italian American Club of Mahopac’s annual “Ferragosto Evening in the Piazza” event April 17, when community members enjoyed traditional Italian and contemporary music, dancing, crafts and other entertainment, as well as authentic and traditional foods.
Celebrating community spirit and Columbus Day holiday have been a tradition honored for more than 30 years by the club. The Columbus Day parade originally culminated with a social gathering back at the clubhouse on Buckshollow Road, with sausage and peppers, and pasta and fagioli for all.
Once Chamber Park was completed, the parade route was reversed to culminate in the park – where an Italian festival open to the community took place, with music and free food for everyone.
A few years later, the Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce began hosting its street fair the same day, and the two organizations collaborated on what became one wildly successful occasion.
However, to preserve the celebration of Italian heritage, a new event was created to once again single out the club’s original offering.
“Ferragosto Evening in the Piazza,” now in its 18th year, celebrates the sunshine and refreshment felt with summer vacation. The objective has always been to spend a romantic evening under the stars and celebrate ethnic richness of the county by celebrating Italian heritage.
Utilizing the beauty of Lake Mahopac, the fountain, and seating and staging of the gazebo, Mahopac Carmel Chamber Park provides the perfect venue for the piazza. The goal is to recreate the ambiance of a European open-air meeting place where everyone can socialize, listen to music, dance, eat, shop among artisans, and just enjoy themselves.
Families at the recent event enjoyed bounce houses, games, face painting and other entertainment. Local artist Regina Gelfer offered an art display and painting exhibit, and high school student-volunteers contributed to the festivities by making animal balloons for children through the Mahopac Library Balloon Club, and by setting up, decorating, assisting with activities and cleaning up.
For more information about the Italian American Club of Mahopac, visit italianamericanclubofmahopac.org.
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