YOUNGSTOWN  The Lady of Mount Carmel Parish's 25th annual Italian Festival begins today, July 24, with events scheduled through Sunday, July 27.

The festival, supported by sponsors from across the city, will feature musical entertainment nightly.

Tonight's opening ceremony includes presentations of Youngstown State University scholarships, Man and Woman of the Year awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Each evening, the parish will host a raffle and a grand raffle with a total prize pool of $5,000.

The festival will be held on the church grounds with the following events on the schedule:

THURSDAY

  • Indoor Stage:
    • 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.: Opening Ceremony
    • 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.: Little Prince and Princess Pageant
    • 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Avanti
  • Outdoor Stage: 
    • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Italian Serenade
    • 6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.: D Major
    • 8:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: RNDA

FRIDAY

  • Indoor Stage:
    • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Rex Taneri
    • 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Jim Frank
    • 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Butch Nichols
  • Outdoor Stage
    • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Italian Serenade
    • 6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.: G-4
    • 8:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Dorals

SATURDAY

  • Indoor Stage:
    • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Jim Frank
    • 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Cavalieri Reali
    • 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: Avanti
  • Outdoor Stage:
    • 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Mirella the Musician
    • 6:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Moreno Fruzzetti
    • 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.: House Band

SUNDAY

  • Indoor Stage:
    • 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Paul Calise
    • 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Butch Nichols
    • 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Dorals
    • 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: D Major
  • Outdoor Stage
    • 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.: Lowellville Band
    • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.: Marco Fiorente
    • 4:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.: Mirella the Musician
    • 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.: Moreno Fruzzeti
    • 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: G-4