COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) โ Italian pride is on full display in Columbus.
Hundreds of people are taking over Italian Village this weekend for the 46th annual Columbus Italian Festival.
โWe heard the music and smelled the pizza and we were like, we got to go in regardless,โ said Samuel Brown, a festivalgoer.
From the dancing to the activities, organizers said there is something for everyone.
When it comes to the food, festivalgoers are getting a taste of Italy in Central Ohio.
โWe got sausage sandwiches, we have cavatelli’s, meatballs and lasagna. My aunt is down there, she has cookies, cannoli, tiramisu and all your Italian favorites,โ said a cook at the Carfagnaโs Ristorante tent.
Helping lead the celebration ABC6 anchor Jessica Ralston.
Ralston is serving as this yearโs master of ceremonies, bringing her own Italian heritage into the festivities.
Taking place near St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, festival volunteer Angela Wolf said the atmosphere makes it feel like a little piece of Rome in Columbus.
โThere is St. John’s right here and the community itself, just is wonderful. I volunteer every year. This is my fifth or sixth year. It is just a lot of fun, and it is nice giving back,โ said Wolf.
Visitors like Samuel Brown said the sense of community is what makes Columbus special.
โMostly just to experience the culture. I think it is so amazing that Columbus is so diverse and rich, like, you have German village, Italian village. It’s so fun. and then to just see everybody kind of come together over one thing is awesome.โ
The Italian Festival Parade begins at 1pm on Sunday, festival festivities will end at 8pm.
