Summon your Italian swagger and say ‘amore’ by indulging in an Italian celebration of St. Valentine this weekend.
An Italian Feast of St. Valentine is to be celebrated Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11 and 12, at the Key Largo Civic Club, mile marker 99 oceanside, and everyone is invited. Presented by the Upper Keys Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the group is dedicated to preserving Italian heritage, language and culture in honor of their ancestors. If Italian is the language of love, this feast is sure to be passionate and satisfying, at least for guests’ bellies with the plentiful, sumptuous Italian specialties that will be on hand. The festival operates noon to 8 p.m. both days.
Visitors can ‘mangia’ stuffed shells, macaroni, meatball subs, pasta soup, pizza, and Italian ice, gelato, cannoli and pizzelle (waffle cookies) for dessert.
Many of the Upper Keys members of the Sons and Daughters of Italy hail from the northeast, according to club president Greg Bianchini, who was interviewed by the Free Press. They remember the tradition of street festivals in Catholic neighborhoods there that included feasts for favorite saints. Members aim to replicate those good times in Key Largo. Proceeds benefit scholarships for local kids.
Along with the food tents, there are arts and crafts, jewelry, rides for children, a bungee jump carousel, afternoon petting zoo, a dunk tank and opportunity to learn to play bocce ball on two regulation-sized courts. Festival entry is free and visitors pay for their various selections among the food booths and activities.
On Saturday, a $25 entry fee allows two-person teams to compete for a basket of fine Italian wines by engaging in a stomper and a swabbie, or grape stomp, Bianchini said. Whoever accumulates the most grape juice in two minutes is the winner.
The club also will be selling its cookbook and Italian novelties.
To participate as a vendor, call Bianchini at 305-451-0781 or 917-862-3979.
To work off any over-the-top indulgence, consider a walk along a Key Largo nature trail that is full of heart shapes. You're guaranteed to fall in love with nature as this story and slide show shows: http://www.examiner.com/florida-keys-travel-in-miami/hearts-nature-fall-love-with-pennekamp-s-grove-trail
For information about places to stay and things to do, visit www.fla-keys.com.
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