For your convenience, we have installed the link below to make donations to this website easier. Now you can utilize your PayPal account or your credit card.

--------------

---------

The Prime Time Brass musical group was among the many parade performers.

Italian-American Festival winds up its 3-day run

Annual parade, fireworks highlighted Saturday events

Photos by Charlie Haeffner and Liz Fraboni

WATKINS GLEN, Aug. 1 -- The annual parade -- featuring more than 50 marching units and a good many politicians -- and a nighttime fireworks spectacular highlighted events Saturday at the Italian-American Festival in Watkins Glen.

The 31st annual festival -- which features food vendors, craft booths, games of chance, midway rides, a bocce tournament, bingo, swimming and entertainment -- wound up its three-day run the next day.

The parade, which traveled north on Decatur Street and east on Fourth Street to Clute Park -- site of the bulk of the festival activities -- drew a crowd, as usual, along the route. A description of each entry was provided on the northern edge of Lafayette Park by the perennial parade emcee, Jim Howell.

Among honorees in the parade were young Jade Scaptura and Kade Westervelt, who were the Italian-American Festival Princess and Prince. Also honored was the Grand Marshal, county historian Barbara Bell.

Politicians were in great evidence, starting with Schuyler County Legislature candidates Tom Gifford, Phil Barnes and Mike Yuhasz, along with Angeline Franzese. Assembly candidates included Paul Marcellus and Jim Hare, while State Senate hopefuls Tom O'Mara, James Bacalles and Pam Mackesey were also marching and shaking hands. The Congressional race was represented by Matthew Zeller.

There were fire departments on hand -- trucks from Watkins Glen, Montour Falls, Odessa, Burdett and Big Flats, to name a few -- as well as various musical groups, such as the horn-blowing Hitmen of Rochester and the Mighty St. Joe's Drum Corps of LeRoy..

All proceeds from the festival are returned to the community through donations and scholarships.

As part of its emphasis on offering a family-friendly experience, the organizing committee prohibited all outside alcoholic beverages from the festival grounds. Coolers and bags were being checked.

Sunday’s final-day highlight was the new Nick Preston Memorial Motorcycle Extravaganza. Motorcyclists and motorcycle fans were invited.

Making their festival debut was a musical group called the Schuyler Scoundrels, entertaining in the late afternoon

The Lakeside Skate Park Competition returned, with competitors amazing spectators with their stunts on skateboards, rollerblades and bicycles.

Sponsors are key to presenting another quality festival. Among the sponsors were Seneca Beverage Corp., Dig Safely New York, Lane’s Yamaha, Wal-Mart, US Salt, Visions Federal Credit Union, Cargill Inc., Financial Institutions of Schuyler County, H&R Block, Executive Coaches of New York, Colonial Inn & Motel, Watkins Self Storage, Lakewood Vineyards, Chemung Canal Trust Co., Haughey-Wood Funeral Home, HSBC Bank, Tobe’s Bakery and Breakfast House, and Vedder & Scott Funeral Home.

Photos in text:

From top: One of the festival rides; a bagpiper in one of two such groups in the parade; and Assemblyman Tom O'Mara, who is seeking a seat in the State Senate.

Grand Marshal Barbara Bell, riding in a car owned and operated by Tony Specchio.

Left: A Rochester unit dressed as World War I doughboys were among the marchers. Right: The Mighty St. Joe's Drum Corps entertained during the parade -- and afterward (in this photo) at Clute Park.

Three candidates for the Schuyler County Legislature were in the parade: Incumbent Tom Gifford, standing left, Phil Barnes (passenger seat) and incumbent Mike Yuhasz (back seat).

Left: Big Flats was among the fire departments on hand. Right: A youngster slides down an enclosed ramp in the festival's midway area.

Left: The Southern Finger Lakes Women (formerly the Business & Professional Women) were on hand with an informational stand. Right: A member of the Penn York bagpipe unit.

One of the many small groups of spectators that lined Fourth Street along the parade route.

Celtic dancers entertained the parade audience, here along Fourth Street.

Left: A young festival-goer tests his arm by throwing a stone into Seneca Lake at Clute Park. Right: Assemblyman James Bacalles was on hand to campaign for a seat on the State Senate.

The Kirby Band from Nichols performed in the parade, as it has in years past.

The majorette for a marching band from Auburn.

A competitor takes his turn in front of an audience in the bocce tournament.

Two Roses: Rose Ciccone, left, and Rose Cook were among the parade watchers.

Left: A Freedom Village float echoes Iwo Jima. Right: Legislature candidate Angeline Franzese.

The Hitmen of Rochester were among the musical groups in the parade.

Left: Congressional candidate Matthew Zeller. Right: Assembly candidate Jim Hare, right, is greeted by parade emcee Jim Howell.

Left: Watkins Glen trustee Bill Smagner rides alongside Mayor Judy Phillips on the back of a parade vehicle. Right: Assembly candidate Paul Marcellus.

Left: State Senate candidate Pam Mackesey. Right: Michel Ray and daughter Katie were on hand to watch the parade.

A small fleet of pleasure crafts were anchored off the festival shoreline.

Left: A reflective horn. Right: Tony Fraboni was emceeing at the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club's over-under game booth.

Left: Alexis Fouts, left, and Danielle McDougall, both students at Odessa-Montour High School, were waiting to park cars on the south side of Fourth Street -- across from Clute Park. Right: A large bunny greets a young fan along the parade route.

Youngsters watch closely as the parade passes by.