Italy is coming to Voorhees Town Center

A taste of Italy is coming to Voorhees. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the New Jersey Order Sons of Italy in America is hosting the first Italian Festa at the Voorhees Town Center.

Food vendors, an espresso bar, a mini popup soccer tournament, bocce tournament, music and performances and even a horse and pony ride will be a part of the festival.

“This is going to be the place to go to eat,” Voorhees Town Center Marketing Manager Jessica Saphire said.

You can’t have a bowl of pasta without a glass of wine. The beer and wine garden is another feature of the festival. It will give visitors a chance to taste different types of wine and beer.

Saphire is exciting to see the food vendors and entertainment bring a crowd to the mall. To add to the Italian Festa, the mall will set up a mall-wide Mercado (sidewalk) sale.

The inside of the mall will be decorated with the colors of Italy — red, green and white.

The mall is trying to make the event cohesive both inside and out, Saphire said.

Festa committee member Gigi Cinalli is looking forward to having the festival at the Voorhees Town Center.

She said one of the entertainment highlights is going to be Reflections of Louie & Keely with Tom Pizzi (a Voorhees resident) and the Wilderness featuring Patricia Durante. Other performers include PrimaMania!, The Amy Faden Band, Ron DiRoma and Nick Cinalli. All performances will bring the sounds of Italian music to liven up the party.

The Cherry Hill West Italian Club will also be at the festival performing Italian folk dances.

Between the exciting activities, performances and Italian-American style food, the festival activities are set up for more than fun and enjoyment.

Cinalli mentioned the importance of “promoting and celebrating the Italian culture” and to help expose the impact Italian-Americans have had in American culture.

Great food and vendors will be there to help promote the festival’s cultural importance, Cinalli said.

The festival is there for the entire family to enjoy. Between the food vendors, music, decoration and an attempt at an Italian market, the festival might turn out to be one giant “Italian festa.”

Admission to the festival is free and the festival is going to be set up in front of the Macy’s entrance (the special events plaza). The festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The activities will begin at 10 a.m. and performances at 10:30 a.m.

The rain date for the event is on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the festival, visit www.njsonsofitaly.com/festa.