A three-day-long celebration of Italian heritage runs from Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7 on Youngstown’s Central Square.

Opening ceremonies for the Greater Youngstown Italian Festival are scheduled at 5 p.m. Friday.

With more than four city blocks of entertainment, the festival will feature food from more than 30 Italian restaurants and vendors.

Each night there will be continuous entertainment on two stages as well as daily musical performances along the midway.

Festival goers can enjoy entertainment inside large tents.

Traditional favorites include the Italian Fest Man and Woman of the Year, the Little King & Queen Pageant, the Miss Italian Fest Pageant, a Morra Tournament, a Venetian Auction Basket Tent, a Pasta Eating Contest, a Homemade Wine Contest, a Homemade Peppers in Oil Contest, and nightly 50/50 raffles.

Wines and beers will be served inside a tent at Champion Street and  East Federal Street.

On Sunday there will be a Mass and procession.

Admission is $5 at the gate. Those under 12 are admitted free.

The Greater Youngstown Italian Fest is the main revenue generator of the Italian Heritage Foundation of Youngstown.

Revenue from the festival admission helps support the Fest’s general expenses and allows the Foundation to make charitable giving to Mahoning Valley Charities on a yearly basis. Proceeds also towards yearly scholarships to Youngstown State University students.

No one under 18 will be admitted without a parent present, and no pets or animals allowed on Festival grounds

2022 Entertainment Schedule

The Italian Fest entertainment schedule for 2022

Friday, August 5

Gates are open 11 am to 11 pm

Wine and Beer Tent

(Location: Champion St. and E. Federal)

Rex Taneri - 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Vintage Vinyl - 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Ovations -  9:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Morra Tournament starts at 7:00 pm

Roma Stage (Location: W. Federal and Phelps St.)

Feral Cats, a Purple Cat Group - 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Opening Ceremony - 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Miss Italian Fest Pageant - 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Gli Italiani - 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Saturday, August 6

Gates open 1 pm to 11 pm

Wine and Beer Tent (Location: Champion St. and E. Federal)

Pasta Eating Contest - 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Butch Nichols Band - 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

RDNA - 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Bustin’ Loose - 9:30 pm – 11:30 pm

Roma Stage (Location: W. Federal and Phelps St.)

Homemade Wine Contest/Homemade Peppers Contest … 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Del Sinchak - 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Ray Massa - 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Sunday, August 7

Gates are open from 11 am to 11 pm

Wine and Beer Tent (Location: Champion St. and E. Federal)

Jim Frank - 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

HouseBand - 8:15 pm – 11:00 pm

Roma Stage (Location: W. Federal and Phelps St.)

Outdoor Mass - 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Lowellville Band - 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Little King & Queen Pageant - 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Avanti Band - 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

The Cavaliers - 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Dom Tocco - 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Strolling Guitar and Mandolin by Bennie Faiella

Street serenading at the Square all weekend by Steve Fazzini

The following Downtown streets are closed until 6 am on Monday, August 8:

• Federal from Phelps to Walnut
• Market from Commerce to Boardman
• Champion from Commerce to Boardman

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