Italian Fest celebrating 120 years

ISHPEMING — If you love pasta, pizza, and everything Italian, then an upcoming festival is for you.

The 120th annual Italian Fest is getting ready to kick off, and according to locals, this ongoing tradition means a lot to the community.

“The Italian Fest means a lot to the area just as tradition,” said Jim Bertucci, one of the coordinators. “It’s something you keep going, keep doing what you’ve been doing for hundreds of years. It brings everyone home. It brings the families back to Ishpeming, and it just brings a good community feeling.”

The festival features loads of Italian food vendors, with everything from cudighi to meatballs, along with a live band from Chicago playing.

This year, attendees can also expect a fireworks show at the end of the festivities, which start this Saturday at noon at the Al Quaal Recreation Area.