The summer’s largest block party celebrates “la bella vita” (the beautiful life) Friday through Sunday, June 27-29, as the 14th Annual Italian American Festival brings its fabulous food and fun to North Wildwood.
For three full days the festival will fill Olde New Jersey Avenue between Walnut and Second avenues with nonstop free music, dozens of sensational food vendors, crazy contests and lots of family fun.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. on Friday with a procession honoring Saint Padre Pio, in which the North Wildwood Knights of Columbus Council, the festival’s producer, will be joined by city and county organizations, veterans, church and school groups, and guest dignitaries to commemorate this world renowned Catholic priest and mystic who had the stigmata of Jesus Christ and brought much hope and beauty to the lives of the ill and suffering.
Straight from Philadelphia and Las Vegas, popular Italian American pianist Sal Masi Jr. and The Untouchables follows the Padre Pio procession, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the top 50s music band, The Business, takes the stage at 9 p.m.
During the show Sal Masi Sr., who was a popular Wildwood entertainer for four decades, will be presented with awards from the city of North Wildwood, as well as from the True Legacies Club, a group of entertainers who played the island from the 50s to the late 60s.
Famed light heavyweight boxer, Chuck “The Professor” Mussachio, a resident of Wildwood, also will be recognized.
The festivities continue Saturday with the Dixieland band Ragtyme, at 1 p.m., followed by Star, an electrifying pop dance trio at 3:30 p.m. Next up, Doo-Wop sensations, the Aquanets, will perform with Wayne and Jamie at 5 p.m.
Then at 7 p.m. the Sharon Sable Band will captivate the crowd with their smooth jazz sounds and silky lounge vocals leading up to the evening’s headline act, the Grammy Award winning 70s dance music band, The Trammps, at 9 p.m., featuring their famous chart topping hit “Disco Inferno.”
On Sunday the festival begins with a mass at St. Ann Roman Catholic Church, 2900 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, at 11 a.m.
Then the entertainment begins at 1:30 p.m. with renowned country guitarist Keith Hickman, followed by Fulvio Ranni Friends, who will electrify the stage with authentic Italian American pop music with a high-energy Latin edge.
The Mastros close the weekend’s festivities with a delightful show featuring singing, dancing, hilarious comedy skits, and outrageous celebrity impressions, beginning at 4 p.m.
For additional information on the festival, visit the Knights of Columbus website, www.kofc2572.org.
You can contact the Wildwoods Tourism Authority toll-free at 800-WW-BY-SEA (800-992-9732) or on the web at wildwoodsnj.com
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