New this year will be a near-life-sized working replica of Rome’s renowned Trevi Fountain …
The ninth annual Mercer County Italian American Festival — New Jersey’s largest Italian American festival — will take place Sept. 26, 27 and 28, 2008 in Mercer County Park, West Windsor.
Named as one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s top events by aaaworld.com, the festival has grown to attract an audience of 100,000 annually.
“The festival’s growth is a result of the quality of our entertainment, the number and quality of restaurants serving authentic Italian food, the number of authentic Italian-American attractions, and the dedication of our committee to keeping the festival focused on celebrating our Italian-American heritage,” said John Scarpati of Hamilton, festival association president.
New this year will be a near- life-sized working replica of Rome’s renowned Trevi Fountain, designed and built at Bucci Studios International in Chicago by well- known artist and Italian native John Bucci.
All coins thrown into the fountain, as is the tradition, will benefit Ryan’s Quest, a nonprofit organization started by Hamilton residents David and Maria Schultz when their son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
The festival features entertainment on two stages, including the Roma Bank Stage, where headline entertainers perform. For festival- goers who like to dance, two covered dance floors are located adjacent to the Roma Bank Stage.
The festival also features the PNC Bank Italian Market Tent .with Italian specialty products; an Italian Heritage Pavilion with art, memorabilia, displays by Italian American organizations, a tribute to Italian-American war veterans and historical artifacts, and a Cultural Theater with cooking demonstrations, guest speakers and authors.
The Food Piazza, on the main festival grounds, features Italian specialties from more than 40 food vendors, including the region’s best Italian restaurants. Other attractions include amusement rides, bocce tournaments, children’s entertainment, and the New Jersey Lottery Fireworks Spectacular.
The Mercer County Italian American Festival will take place from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26; noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Admission to the festival is $2. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free. Convenient, on- site parking is also free. The festival is a rain or shine event.
For more information, call the Mercer County Italian American Festival Association at 609-631-7544 or visit www.italianamericanfestival.com.

