The100th Annual St. Peter’s Italian Bazaar & Street Festival takes place this week to celebrate the old “Little Italy” section of Portland.
Festival Co-chairman Michael Colello says the tradition started at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Federal Street.
“One of the things that brought them all together and got them to create this place called Little Italy, was a priest at St Peter’s back in the day, trying to find a way to get all these people to come to be together as a group and to worship in their native tongue,” said Colello, speaking about Father Burke, who back in 1925 came up with the idea to establish a Grand Bazaar.
Colello says influential Italian business owners have been part of the Portland landscape dating back to the 1920’s with names like Mancini Electric and DiMillo’s On the Water.
“There’s such an influence of the Italian heritage around this community,” Colello said. “It’s really unique. And I would say the next closest location to any of that is the north end of Boston.”
The festival takes place Friday and Saturday evening in front of St. Peter’s Church, with live music, old world-style Italian Pizza as well as Italian Cookies, Cannoli, Gelato and Spumoni.
The event’s theme this year is “Celebrating the History of St. Peter’s and the Spirit of Little Italy””
Great pains are being taken now, Tuesday and Wednesday, as the Italian cookie baking crew is handcrafting 13,000 Italian cookies, 3500 Cannoli, 2000 Pizzelles, plus cakes, Tiramisu, and an Italian Rainbow Cake.
The bakers are using 180 dozen eggs, 600 pounds of flour and 250 pounds of sugar in the cooking process.
Festival opening ceremonies will take place Friday at 5 pm with Maine’s 13th Bishop of Portland, James T. Ruggieri, blessing the new “Grotto” at St. Peter’s parish.
Live music entertainment will be featured both nights with local musician Jim Ciampi and his 7-piece Premier Dance Band on Friday. An Elvis Presley impersonator will take the stage Saturday night with “Viva Las Elvis,” with Dan Fontaine & the Memphis Sun Mafia Band, along with Las Vegas headliner Jimmy Mazz.
St. Peter’s Italian Bazaar & Street Festival runs 5pm-10pm Friday and Saturday in front of St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Federal Street between India Street and Hampshire Street.
