Reason to celebrate

St. Rocco's Feast and Festival kicks off four-day run

Posted

Meatballs, music, and the military. Rigatoni, rides, and raffles. Pasta, pastries, and a procession. Fireworks and French fries.

Those are just a few of the many offerings people will enjoy during the annual four-day St. Rocco’s Feast and Festival, which opens tonight at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday on the Roman Catholic church’s grounds at 927 Atwood Ave. in Johnston.

“We’ve got a host of volunteers ready to serve what we hope will be record crowds,” said John Ricci, the event’s co-chairman with Richard Montella. “It’s all systems go. Let’s hope and pray we’re blessed with great weather.”

The Rev. Angelo Carusi, pastor at St. Rocco’s and the event’s honorary chairman, announced that the official festival hours are Thursday through Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

If the weather cooperates, this year’s event promises to be one of the best in St. Rocco’s history.

In addition to enjoying a variety of home-style foods, festival-goers will have a chance to win cash prizes of $1,500 and $1,000, enjoy a beer or cup of wine, and listen to music.

For the children, there will be rides and games that were set up yesterday by workers from Johnston-based Rockwell Amusement, which Ricci and Montella said has a reputation of being one of the best carnival-like shows in New England.

“Rockwell has something new this year,” Ricci said. “They’ve got colorful signs on every booth-top, and there are two equally decorative ticket booths located under our big top.”

That big top, which is located in the parking lot behind St. Rocco’s Church, measures 90 feet wide and 190 feet long and houses a religious articles stand, a “Game of Skill” hosted by the Women’s Guild, and is more commonly known as the “Straw Draw Booth.”

Ricci also pointed out that the food court, which will feature Italian goods and delicacies, will be located under the “Big Top,” as will the always-popular beer garden.

“We’re expecting the raffle booth will be busy from the time the festival opens until the drawing is held Sunday night around 9:30,” Ricci said.

Two of the top prizes will be $1,500 and $1,000 in cash. The grand prize will be a two-year lease of a 2016 Lincoln MKZ that has been sponsored by Don DePetrillo of the Original Italian Bakery and John Keefe. Tickets will be $2 each, three for $5, or seven for $10.

“Imagine spending a couple of bucks and wining a two-year lease on the beautiful car that’s located in front of our church,” Ricci said. “Or for that matter, enjoying food and drink, buying a raffle ticket, and winning a thousand bucks.”

This year’s festival also has an interesting lineup of music, beginning this evening when singers Christina Rodi and Derek Capobianco perform under the Big Top.

“I’m 83 years old and I’m as excited as ever about this year’s festival,” Ricci said. “St. Rocco’s is the place to be this weekend, and we’ll even have a special military flavor to this weekend’s music.”

Tomorrow night, retired Rhode Island National Guard Gen. Reginald Centracchio will have his talented Reggie Centracchio Quartet stationed under the Big Top, where they’ll treat festival-goers to a variety of music.

Saturday evening will feature music from Gemini. The fireworks extravaganza is scheduled to go off at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the Rhode Island Veterans Band will be on hand.

Likewise, the R & J Review – a duo made up of brothers Jack and Richard Martone, who served in the U.S. Army and play the saxophone and trumpet, respectively – will play rock ‘n’ roll and soul from the 1950s to 1970s.

Their set will run from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, the Martones will take a break and Steve Quirini – a noted entertainer of Starzz Entertainment who lives in Johnston – will perform his unique Elvis routine.

Sunday’s session will be a reunion of sorts for the Martone brothers, who played together as kids and when they got out of the service, which included Richard doing a year in Vietnam.

“I quit playing for 42 years and started playing again two years ago,” Jack Martone said. “That’s when I formed the R & J Revue, and we’re really looking forward to playing at the Festival Sunday afternoon.”

Sunday’s entertainment schedule includes a 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. performance from Ambrosiani.

The feast finale will be held Sunday when the Rev. Thomas Joseph Tobin, bishop of Providence, will celebrate a Solemn Mass at 11 a.m. He will also be the morning’s homilist.

Immediately following the Mass, the Blessed Bread of Saint Rocco will be distributed after the annual procession. 1

CLASSIC COLORS:

This large Italian flag will be hanging in front of St. Rocco’s Church on Atwood Avenue until the annual Feast and Festival is complete. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

2

TERRIFIC TOP:

This is the 80-by-190-foot cathedral tent that will cover people who attend St. Rocco’s Feast and Festival. 3

This cooler will be filled with a variety of Italian pastries, delicacies and many food offerings during the four-day Saint Rocco’s Feast and Festival. 4

POPULAR PLACE:

The beer garden is always a huge hit with festival-goers. 5

SUPER SIGNS:

Rockwell Amusements has added colorful booth-tops for the annual St. Rocco’s Feast and Festival, which will feature foods like sausage and pepper sandwiches, meatballs and pasta, and of course doughboys. 6

GLORIOIUS GARDEN:

The St. Francis Garden, located adjacent to St. Rocco’s Church, is adorned with American and Italian flags and bunting. 7

TICKET BOOTHS:

Rockwell Amusements has added two new colorful booths at which people can purchase tickets for all the rides. 8

DIVINE DUTY:

Ralph Ciunci, a parishioner at St. Rocco's Church in Johnston, prepares to fasten a string of lights to a pole as the Rev. Angelo Carusi assists.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here