Clinton hosts celebration of Italian heritage

There were many sights to be seen and sounds to be heard at this year's Little Italy festival in Clinton. 

Many locals, as well as those who traveled from a few towns over, enjoyed the parade at 6 p.m. on the first night, Friday.  Many spectators enjoyed performances on two different stages throughout the four-day festival. 

Italian singers kicked off Friday's festivities with Italy's national anthem and proceeded to perform Italian songs for the audience. 

All four nights included multiple dance groups and singing ensembles, as well as grape stomping and eating contests featuring such Italian foods as spaghetti, sausage, meatballs and pizza. 

On Saturday the stages featured a mustache contest, the South Vermilian Middle and High School spiritgourps, and queen and court entertainment featuring the Queen of Grapes. 

Sunday night's entertainment featured a talent show and a costume contest; the night ended with the Terry Lee Rockabilly Band. 

Finally, Labor Day's activities included a drawing for a trip to Italy, Tumble Mania, auctions, the Frank Bradford Band and a fireworks show to wrap-up.

Festival-goers enjoyed a wide variety of foods such as deep fried pickles, elephant ears, hot dogs, and lemon shakeups, as well as a mix of real homemade Italian foods such as baked ziti, Italian sausage and other combination dishes to choose from. 

Michelle Natalie, Queen of Grapes, explained the presumed history behind the Little Italy festival and why it takes place in Clinton. 

Natalie, currently a student at the University of Indianapolis, told a story about how Clinton drew in immigrants, specifically Italian immigrants, which is why Italian heritage is celebrated with a festival every year in Clinton. 

Natalie herself is of Italian heritage and mentioned that her grandparents were of those who immigrated to Clinton to work in a coal mine and even owned one as well. Therefore, this festival is "very dear to her." 

She also described the process of becoming the Queen of Grapes.

"You can only be the Queen of Grapes once," she said. "I am the ambassador for the Little Italy Festival.  I traditionally throw the first Bocce ball and judge contests," she explained as part of her festival duties.

Bocce ball is an Italian yard game played every year at the festival.

She also went on to explain that before becoming the Queen of Grapes, candidates become princesses and help run activities in their hometown fairs and festivals, competing to become Queen of Grapes. 

Once a princess has become Queen of Grapes, in the following years they may return and help the new Queen of Grapes as well as go on to compete in a larger pageant for all of the Queens. 

Beth Neeley, a senior chemistry major who traveled to Italy in high school, attended the festival on the opening Friday night. 

Her expectations were let down by the name of the festival.

"It's about as Italian as Taco Bell is Mexican," she said about the festival's lack of authentic Italian feel in the atmosphere and foods. 

The festival did feature Italian flags, some Italian foods and entertainment by Italian singers.  The feel of the festival was a mixture of small town fair and Italian festival.