Today in Wheeling History: July 22—The first Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival began in downtown Wheeling, celebrating Italian-American culture with food, music, and entertainment (1983).
The Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival was established in 1983, thanks to the efforts of Anthony Zambito, Vincent Colaianni, Anthony Iannarelli, and Benny Battistelli. After attending the Clarksburg Italian Festival in 1982, these four visionaries sought to replicate the success in Wheeling, West Virginia. They gathered a team of volunteers from local Italian-American clubs and formed a Board of Directors. Each founder contributed $5,000 to cover initial expenses, launching what would become a significant cultural event for the region. The inaugural festival took place from July 22 to 24, 1983, in downtown Wheeling, with activities including Italian music and dance, food prepared by local chefs, and traditional games like Morra and bocce. Notable performers included Al Martino, Vic Damone, Dana Valery, Nico Ventura, Laurel Buehler, and Eugene Procter.
By 1987, the festival had achieved substantial success, leading the Board of Directors to invest the profits into a perpetual trust fund to support college scholarships for local students. Initially, the festival awarded six $350 scholarships, but as the event grew, so did the scholarship program. By the early 2000s, the festival was offering 13 annual $1,000 scholarships, with one scholarship dedicated to students pursuing careers in broadcast journalism in honor of past Chairman Michael Sinicropi. To date, the festival’s scholarship program has awarded over $250,000 to area students. As the festival continued to grow, it became the largest outdoor festival in the Upper Ohio Valley.
In 2000, the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation requested that the festival move to the newly completed Heritage Port on the waterfront to enhance the event’s potential. Despite initial resistance from some who were attached to the original location, the Board of Directors agreed to the move. The relocation to Heritage Port in July 2001 proved to be highly successful, and the festival is now the second-largest Italian festival in the United States, drawing over 150,000 visitors each year. The festival’s success at the new location has allowed it to continue celebrating Italian culture and heritage while fostering community connections.
Today, the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is held annually at Heritage Port on Water Street in Wheeling, West Virginia, running from 11th to 14th Street. The 2024 festival is scheduled for July 26 to 28, with hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The festival features a variety of entertainment options, including musical performances on the Main Stage, traditional Italian music and dance on the Little Italy Stage, food vendors, craft booths, and bocce tournaments. The festival continues to support its scholarship program and offers community involvement through volunteering and sponsorship opportunities.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yc48p462) (https://www.italyfest.org/history)
Photo Credits: Wheeling News-Register
The Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival was established in 1983, thanks to the efforts of Anthony Zambito, Vincent Colaianni, Anthony Iannarelli, and Benny Battistelli. After attending the Clarksburg Italian Festival in 1982, these four visionaries sought to replicate the success in Wheeling, West Virginia. They gathered a team of volunteers from local Italian-American clubs and formed a Board of Directors. Each founder contributed $5,000 to cover initial expenses, launching what would become a significant cultural event for the region. The inaugural festival took place from July 22 to 24, 1983, in downtown Wheeling, with activities including Italian music and dance, food prepared by local chefs, and traditional games like Morra and bocce. Notable performers included Al Martino, Vic Damone, Dana Valery, Nico Ventura, Laurel Buehler, and Eugene Procter.
By 1987, the festival had achieved substantial success, leading the Board of Directors to invest the profits into a perpetual trust fund to support college scholarships for local students. Initially, the festival awarded six $350 scholarships, but as the event grew, so did the scholarship program. By the early 2000s, the festival was offering 13 annual $1,000 scholarships, with one scholarship dedicated to students pursuing careers in broadcast journalism in honor of past Chairman Michael Sinicropi. To date, the festival’s scholarship program has awarded over $250,000 to area students. As the festival continued to grow, it became the largest outdoor festival in the Upper Ohio Valley.
In 2000, the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation requested that the festival move to the newly completed Heritage Port on the waterfront to enhance the event’s potential. Despite initial resistance from some who were attached to the original location, the Board of Directors agreed to the move. The relocation to Heritage Port in July 2001 proved to be highly successful, and the festival is now the second-largest Italian festival in the United States, drawing over 150,000 visitors each year. The festival’s success at the new location has allowed it to continue celebrating Italian culture and heritage while fostering community connections.
Today, the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival is held annually at Heritage Port on Water Street in Wheeling, West Virginia, running from 11th to 14th Street. The 2024 festival is scheduled for July 26 to 28, with hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The festival features a variety of entertainment options, including musical performances on the Main Stage, traditional Italian music and dance on the Little Italy Stage, food vendors, craft booths, and bocce tournaments. The festival continues to support its scholarship program and offers community involvement through volunteering and sponsorship opportunities.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/yc48p462) (https://www.italyfest.org/history)
Photo Credits: Wheeling News-Register
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