Holy Rosary Catholic Church presents the ethnic event of the summer, the 30th Summer Italian Street Festival. Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th, 2014 from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, the historic Holy Rosary Catholic Church, located at 520 Stevens Street and surrounding Lacy Park, will once again transform into an outdoor Italian festival and celebration. The annual summer event is free and a treat for all the senses.
New to the festival is an exceptional, music line up including four of Indy’s most popular acts. Cory Williams and headliner, the Flying Toasters, will entertain Festival crowds Friday evening, along with Festival regular, the Theotokops Band. Saturday, June 14, the lineup includes Spinrut and the Woomblies. Fans of Caruso and Frank Sinatra and will also be entertained as classic Italian pop music favorites are played over the Festival public address system.
The Italian Street Festival features over 25 different Italian meats, pastas, salads and desserts! Attendees will be entertained by live music and dancing, carnival rides and games. Twenty five food stands in a festive, ethnic setting are decorated with strands of lights; Italian music and an old-world style procession and Mass add to the ambiance. Holy Rosary Church is located at the corner of East Street and Stevens Street, six blocks south of downtown. There is free parking in the Eli Lilly lots on East and New Jersey Street. Proceeds from the event go to the Holy Rosary Catholic Church operating fund and the community it serves.
On Friday and Saturday afternoon of the festival, the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana will host bocce demonstrations. All are welcome to play bocce at the courts in Lacy Park or learn how to play the historic Italian game. The Lacy Park Bocce Courts are located at McCarty and Greer Street at the south end of the Church. Those interested in signing up a team of four to play in the IHSI League should register at www.italianheritage.org or call the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana at 317-767-7686.
Additionally, there is a 7:00 pm mass on June 14th at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. At 6:45 pm, before Mass, there is a colorful, Italian religious procession, with a Blessed Virgin statue, along with priests, servers and members of the Italian Heritage Society that moves right through the middle of the food booths.
All are welcome. Don’t miss this celebrated Indianapolis tradition.
The Italian Street Festival Organizers strive to create a fun, family-friendly environment where one can experience Italian American culture and Catholic heritage by providing the best in Italian cuisine, entertainment, Italian goods and services – striving for excellence in promoting the Indianapolis Italian American community, the Parish of Holy Rosary and the City of Indy of Indianapolis. Holy Rosary Church and the Italian Street Festival are 501c-3 entities. Proceeds from the annual Festival support the Church Operation Fund.
