Valley's Iconic Italian Festival to Mark 50 Years

Alycia Filippone and Sal Aconfora prepare meatballs for the festival

  

ANSONIA-  Holy Rosary parish will sponsor its 50^th annual Italian Festival, Festa! 2017, starting Thursday, Aug. 10 through Saturday Aug. 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. on its church grounds, 10 Father Salemi Drive. 



The festival is a celebration of Italian heritage as the parish recalls its roots as an immigrant parish in the early 1900’s.  The current church (and festival) is located in the old Powe Street neighborhood that once housed a vibrant Italian enclave from 1900 to the flood redevelopment era of the 1960’s.

 

The festival features freshly prepared Italian foods such as suffrito, lasagna al forno, porchetta, pizza fritta, ravioli fritta, fried calamari and more.  All food items are freshly prepared in the parish hall kitchen by parish cooks each day.  The recipes used are established, tried-and-true and finished with love.  Special dessert items are Italian pastry treats like cannoli’s and sfogliatelle and gelato made by the award winning Gelato Giuliana of New Haven.

 

Holy Rosary’s Italian festival is rare in that the food items are freshly prepared on site  by parish cooks.  Alycia Filippone, festival co-chair, credits the success of the festival to this main point. 

 

“When you visit our festival you will find no private vendors selling dinner foods.,” she said.  “We take the food too seriously to leave it in the hands of others.  We prepare everything ourselves. Every dish is made as if we are serving our own large Italian families.  That’s why our food is so good, the love comes through!”

 

The festival also offers live musical entertainment each night.  Great artists like I'Liguri will entertain on Thursday, the Navels play on Friday and our Three Tenors:  Rich DePalma, Mark Lanzieri and Tony Santoli will perform the Saturday show. 

 

Rainbow Amusements provides rides for the children – Thursday is bracelet night.  Visitors can try their hands at the games of skill and games of chance.  An Italian Marketplace will sell Italian gifts and novelties ideal for the holidays or anytime.

The festival is located on flat paved grounds providing easy access for everyone. 

Admission is free so bring a chair, stay all night and enjoy! 

More information is available at:  www.holyrosaryfestival.com.

Free Throw Contest Jan. 14

 

ANSONIA - The Knights of Columbus of Holy Rosary Church will host a Free Throw Championship for boys and girls ages 9-14 on Jan. 14.

 

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Assumption Church Gym, third floor, 61 North Cliff St. There is no charge to participate in this event, which is being sponsored by Holy Rosary Church and Assumption Church.

 

For entry and registration information contact Bill Bowers at (203)734-7206. 

 

 

Local Pastor Tries Hand at Pizza Making for "Festa!"

Father Stephen Krugel of Holy Rosary Church, Ansonia, prepares pizza for the church's 49th annual Italian Festival, Festa! The popular festival, which draws thousands of folks each year to the church grounds, located at 10 Father Salemi Dr., Ansonia, runs from 5 to 10 p.m. August 5-6. Admission is free.
 

 

Ziti Dinner to Benefit Valley Scouts

ANSONIA - Holy Rosary Church's Catholic Men's Club will sponsor a ziti dinner fundraiser April 16 to benefit Scouting Venturing Crew 77 in their activities and service to the community.

 The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at Holy Rosary Church Hall, 10 Father Salemi Dr. Dinner includes ziti and meatballs, salad, coffee, tea, soda and dessert. Cost is $10 person, and free for kids 5 and under.

 For tickets or more information call Carole at (203)231-3850 or Margie at (203)736-1752.

 Walk-ins are welcome.

'Festa' on tap at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia

It's an August tradition in the Valley!


Note: Information taken from church website.

Wine, beer tasting on tap in Ansonia

*Update: This event has been canceled.

ANSONIA - A wine and beer tasting fundraiser will be held from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 9 at Holy Rosary Church hall, 10 Father Salemi Drive.

The evening will include appetizers, a raffle and entertainment by singer Mark Lanzieri of Ansonia.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Call 203-734-7652 or 203-734-8747.

Wine and beer samples supplied by Valley Wine and Liquor in Ansonia.


This is taken from a press release.

46th annual Festa! is on tap in Ansonia

Italian Festival is a summer tradition

 Kyle and Gayl Lund of Ansonia enjoy last year's Festa! / Contributed photo

   ANSONIA - Holy Rosary parish will sponsor its 46th annual Italian Festival, Festa! 2013, from 5-10 p.m. Aug. 8-10 on its church grounds on Father Salemi Drive.
    The festival is a celebration of Italian heritage as the parish recalls its roots as an immigrant parish in the early 1900s.
   The current church (and festival) is located in the old Powe Street neighborhood that once housed a vibrant Italian enclave from 1900 to the flood redevelopment era of the 1960s.
     The festival features freshly prepared Italian foods such as soffrito, lasagna, porchetta, pizza fritta, fried calamari and more. All food items are freshly prepared in the parish hall kitchen by parishioners each day.
     The recipes used are established, tried-and-true and finished with love. Special dessert items are Italian pastry treats like cannolis and sfogliatelle.
     The festival also features gelato made by the award-winning Gelato Giuliana of New Haven.

    Rev. Stephan Krugel, pastor, said he looks forward to this year’s event. Father Steve was a teen at Holy Rosary parish in the early years of the festival and volunteered then as so many other parishioners have.
      “It’s great to be able to return to my home parish and find our festival to be such a vibrant part of the local community,” he said. “I look forward to working the booths again this year. This is a great event and I invite our friends to join us this year for an exciting festa!”

     The festival also offers live musical entertainment each night. Rainbow Amusements provides rides for the children, and Thursday is bracelet night.
    Visitors can try their hands at the games of skill and games of chance. An Italian Marketplace will sell Italian gifts and novelties ideal for the holidays.

     The festival is located on flat paved grounds providing easy access for everyone.
     Admission is free; bring a chair and enjoy!
     More information is available at: www.holyrosaryfestival.com.


This is a press release from Thomas Maffeo, parishioner, Holy Rosary Church.

Holy Rosary Church to host Festa 2012

Italian festival on tap in Ansonia

ANSONIA - Holy Rosary Church parishioners have been busy preparing for their 45th annual event next weekend.

It will run from 5-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday on the parish grounds, Father Salemi Drive. Admission is free. 

Check out the website for all the info, and get ready for some fabulous festival food and family fun.