Many Collinsville residents think of the Italian Fest as an annual high school class reunion, an opportunity to eat different types of food while listening to a band or an excuse to drink to excess. However, the 30-year-old-festival is also one of the most important two days of fund raising for dozens of charitable organizations.
The festival has generated around $300,000 per year in recent years for local civic, social, church and school organizations, Wendi Valenti, executive director for the Chamber of Commerce, said. The majority of the money generated is from volunteers working on behalf of civic organizations at a vendor booth.
All for profit vendors at any of the 40 booths are required to donate at least 50 percent of their profits to a charity of their choice. Italian Fest guidelines, according to the Chamber of Commerce, require proof after the event that the charity listed received the funds.
Nominal vendor fees, sponsorships and beer sales primarily fund the Italian Fest, the Chamber of Commerce indicated. Bars and liquor stores on Main Street are allowed to sell open alcohol to festival goers. No other Main Street event has this same privilege, and the revenue generated from the Italian Fest suffers as a result, Valenti said.
The charity does not stop with the vendors, Missy Tillman, Chairman of the Italian Fest said. “If we make an exceptional amount, will give back to the community or charities,” Tillman said.
A scholarship is also awarded each year for a graduating senior that lives in the Collinsville area. The scholarship this year was worth $2,000.
Not everyone in town is thrilled with the two-day event that closes Main Street from Thursday at 6:30 p.m. until about 6 a.m. the following Sunday each year. Jack Butterfield, co-owner of Butterfield’s Jewelry at 123 E. Main Street, said the Italian Fest cuts off his business for two days.
“People don’t go to that to shop, they go for the food and the drink,” Butterfield said.
One of the Italian Fest founders started the event because he thought it would help the downtown businesses, but it has really backfired, Butterfield said. “A lot of our merchants would like to see it moved. It disrupts our business, and it doesn’t help,” Butterfield said.
But most of the tens of thousands who attend each year are not thinking about charity programs or the impact to local businesses, they flock to Main Street to have a good time.
The Italian Fest kicked off this year with an exhibit at the Collinsville Library celebrating the 30-year history of the festival. The exhibit continues until Oct. 12.
Little Miss and Mister Italian Fest were crowned on Set 14. Hayden Rehg and Zachary Kennett won the awards and will have the honor of riding in the parade Saturday, beginning at 4 p.m. on Main Street in uptown Collinsville.
An original Italian movie is screened each year the night before the festival officially kicks off. The film this year, Benvenuti al nord (Welcome to the North), will be shown at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Collinsville Library.
Opening ceremonies are at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Some crowd favorite each year are the grape stomp, parade, 5k run, Diaper Dash, bands and, of course, the food and drink. The complete lists of events can be found here.
A vendor map can be found here. More information is available at http://italianfest.net/index.html.
