After canceling the event for two years in a row due to COVID, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica Italian Festival returns to Youngstown for four days beginning Thursday evening at 343 Mt. Carmel.

There’ll be music, food, craft vendors, an auction, a raffle, children’s activities, a homemade wine contest, and a table featuring historic items found in traditional Italian kitchens from colanders to aprons.

There’ll also be a Morra tournament, an ancient game in which participants call out numbers as they show their hands with varying amounts of fingers. The player who calls out the correct total number of fingers from all participants wins a point.

Some of the Valley’s favorite bands will take the stage including Del Sinchak, RONA, and Dominic Tocco, just to name a few.

A festival favorite, the Little Prince and Princess Pageant will be held Thursday, July 21, at 7 pm in the parish social hall.

There’ll be food for every palate including cavatelli, sausage sandwiches, greens, fried bologna, burgers, wings, ribs and chicken, kettle corn, cookies, ice cream, and pastries.

The festival runs 5 pm to 11 pm Thursday through Saturday, and from noon to 10 pm Sunday.

Admission is $5 per person at the gate. Children under 12 are free.

Festival organizers recognize that there is road construction in the downtown area but all the lots for the Mt. Carmel Fest will be open as usual.  Shuttle buses will take festival goers to the fest from Downtown lots.

Entertainment Schedule

Thursday, July 21

Inside Stage:

  • 5:00-6:00 Del Sinchak
  • 7:00-8:30 Pageant
  • 9:00-10:30 Jim Frank

Outside Stage:

  • 5:00-6:00 Italian Serenade
  • 6:00-8:00 D-Major
  • 8:30-10:30 RONA

 Friday, July 22

Inside Stage:

  • 6:30 - 8:00 Avanti Band
  • 8:30-10:30 Butch Nichols

Outside Stage:

  • 5:00-6:00 Italian Serenade
  • 6:00-8:00 Gli ltaliani
  • 8:30-10:30 House Band

Saturday, July 23

Inside Stage:

  • 6:30-8:00 Avanti Band
  • 8:30-10:30 Jim Frank

Outside Stage:

  • 6:00-7:15 Mirella
  • 7:30-9:00 Moreno Fruzzetti
  • 9:30-10:45 Dominic Tocco

Sunday, July 24

Inside Stage:

  • 2:00-4:00 Paul Calise
  • 4:30-6:30 Rex Taneri
  • 7:00-9:00 D-Major

Outside Stage:

  • 1:30-2:30 Lowellville Band
  • 3:00-4:30 Mirella
  • 4:45-6:00 Gli ltaliani
  • 6:30-8:00 Moreno Fruzzetti
  • 8:15-9:45 Cavalieri Reale

Procession Sunday Noon, after 11:00 am Mass with the Lowellville Band