What you need to know about Italian American Festival this weekend in Watkins Glen

Tom Passmore, The Leader
·2 min read

The two-day Italian Fest is coming back to Clute Park in Watkins Glen this year.

This rain-or-shine event will feature food, family fun, vendors, music, rides and a fireworks show.

We've put together a guide for everything you need to know for the 2022 Italian Fest.

When is it?

The festival will open at noon on Friday and 6:10 a.m. on Saturday.

It closes at 11 p.m. Friday and midnight Saturday.

How much does it cost?

$15 for all inflatable rides. There will be no fair rides this year. Bobby K Entertainment is providing the inflatables.

When is the parade?

The parade will take place Saturday starting at noon, to celebrate and promote world peace. This parade will take place down Decatur Street in Watkins Glen, starting at 15th street and ending on 5th street. Grand Marshals will include Peggy Scott and Jim Scaptura.

Following the parade, there will be a toast to the festival with members of the community at 1:30 p.m. in front of the Clute Park pavilion.

What else is there to do?

There will be two performances from local bands – The Variables and Rukus - along with Italian music from noon- 2 p.m. Friday, and noon-2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

In addition to the local bands. the festival is hosting Tanglewood Nature Center on Friday from 2-4 p.m.. Tanglewood will have native and exotic animals on display and will also have a brief educational show.

The fireworks show to cap off the festival’s events will occur over the south end of Seneca Lake at Clute Park, on Saturday starting at 9:30 p.m.

How much will it cost to park?

Parking for the event at Clute Park will be $7.00 per vehicle.

What's happening and when?

Friday, August 5

  • Noon-8 p.m. — Craft/vendor marketplace

  • Noon-11 p.m. — Festival food row

  • Noon-11 p.m. — Beer garden

  • 2-4 p.m. — Tanglewood Nature Center

  • 3-8 p.m. — Bobby K inflatable rides

  • 7:30-11 p.m. — The Variables

Saturday, August 6

  • 10:30 a.m. — Cornhole tournament kicks off

  • 10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Craft/vendor marketplace

  • 10 a.m.-midnight — Festival food row

  • 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — Italian music in the park.

  • Noon-8 p.m. — Bobby K inflatable rides

  • Noon-11 p.m. — Beer garden

  • 2-3 p.m. — Leslie School of Dance

  • 5-7 p.m. — Musicians Sean and Mike

  • 8 p.m.-midnight — Rukus

  • 9:30 p.m. — Fireworks over Seneca Lake

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Watkins Glen Italian American Festival: What to know