LOWELLVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) – Thousands of people have been in Lowellville this week to celebrate the annual Lowellville Mount Carmel Festival.
It’s at Mount Carmel Society on 102 Washington Street in Lowellville, and each day this week will have something special to it.
This is the festival’s 131st year of celebrating Italian tradition, heritage, and community in the Valley. It’s held every year to honor Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose feast day is on July 16.
There is plenty of food to try, from traditional Italian dishes to your classic fair foods, as well as carnival games, rides, and even bocce and morra tournaments. Admission is free, and the fair will run today through Saturday, opening at 6 p.m. nightly.
The festival kicked off Wednesday, and Thursday marked the Feast Day Mass and Parade.
The Mount Carmel Band led the parade through the city, and members were carrying a Madonna statue held dear to the society. It was made in 1887 and imported from Italy in the 1890s.
The parade went through town, over the bridge and ended where the festival will hold its festivities.
“It’s our 131st Mount Carmel Festival here in Lowellville, so lots of family traditions. I’d say if you grew up in Youngstown, you’ve been to the Lowellville festival, but if you haven’t, it’s a great year to come out. Lots of great things happening,” said Morgen Giordani Chretien, a festival representative.
Bocce tournaments will take place at the festival’s start each day, with a morra tournament joining it at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Entertainment on each night will be provided by Larry Elefante and the Mount Carmel Band. They’ll be joined by Cassanova and the Divas tomorrow, Nunzio and the Melodies on Friday, and Jim Frank Combo on Saturday.
Friday night is the last chance to see the baby doll dance. Organizers have carried on the tradition for more than 130 years.
A person inside the costume brings the baby doll to life. Nick Speziale has been doing it for four years, and his uncle did it for more than 40 years.
“A lot of people say it’s a way of getting rid of bad spirits. A lot of people say it’s just a way of bringing community together. I think it’s really, this whole community is like a big family,” Speziale said.
There is a new baby doll costume Nick tried out on Wednesday, but the remaining dances are using the previous version.
“The old one is. It needs to be preserved. I want it to stay safe. I love that doll. It’s a great doll. You know I don’t want anything to happen to it. I’d be sick if something did happen to it. I am sure the community would be too. So that’s the idea behind the new doll. We hope that they love it.”
The festival will end with a fireworks display at 11:30 p.m. Saturday.