The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival is an annual three-day street festival held in downtown Clarksburg, West Virginia, over Labor Day weekend. First held in 1979, the festival was established to celebrate West Virginia's Italian-American culture. Its events have included a parade, street concerts, Italian food, cultural events, crafts, bocce, morra, and the crowning of a festival queen.
History
Italian immigrants were the most numerous ethnic group to arrive in West Virginia during the large-scale immigration associated with the state's industrialization. Clarksburg remains one of the centers of Italian-American population in West Virginia. The first West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival was held in downtown Clarksburg in 1979. The idea for the festival was proposed by the director of the local public library, and a board of directors consisting largely of citizens of Italian descent was formed. The festival was established to celebrate Italian-American culture in West Virginia and recognize the contributions of early Italian immigrants.
The founding group included Louis Spatafore, Sam Chico, Sam D'Annunzio, Frank Iaquinta, James D. Larosa, John Manchin, and Alma "Merle" Moore, who was the Harrison County Public Library director at the time.
The first festival included a parade, street concerts, Italian food, art shows and opera, crafts, bocce, Morra (game), golf, and the crowning of a festival queen. Joe DiMaggio and West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller participated in the first festival parade and rode together in a car.
In 2020, the 42nd festival was held virtually from September 4 to 6 because of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Festival
The festival is held in downtown Clarksburg each Labor Day weekend, beginning on Friday and concluding on Sunday. Regular festival activities have included a parade, street concerts, Italian food, cultural events, crafts, bocce, morra, golf, and the crowning of a festival queen.
Performers
Past performers have included Jerry Vale, Frankie Avalon, Tony Danza, Kathy Mattea, Jo Dee Messina, Steve Augeri, and Joey Dee and the Starliters.
Honorees
The festival recognizes Italian-American and honorary Italian men and women of the year. The following recipients are listed by the festival through 2026.
Italian-American men of the year
Honorary Italian men of the year
Italian-American women of the year
Honorary Italian women of the year
See also Italian Americans Pepperoni roll
References