By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival is sailing into West Haven, this year’s host community.
The free festival will take place on the city’s historic Green from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 12. The rain date is Oct. 13.
The cultural event celebrates the region’s deep-rooted Italian heritage with food trucks, live music, children’s activities, craft vendors and more.
It is presented by the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee.
Mark Consorte, a longtime social studies teacher and department head at West Haven High School, will serve as the festival’s grand marshal, and West Haven Funeral Home owner Celia Pinzi will receive the committee’s Laura Luzzi Award for outstanding public service.
Consorte and Pinzi are lifelong Westies and third- and second-generation Italian Americans, respectively.
Mayor Dorinda Borer, who tapped Consorte for grand marshal, said: “Mark is a great representative of what the Italian culture stands for: kindness, charitable and family-oriented. As a longtime teacher, he’s mentored thousands of students with his knowledge and passion and additionally has volunteered toward organizations across our city.”
Borer added: “Celia has been there for so many of us, myself included, and I felt it was important to recognize a wonderful person who silently stays behind the scenes and doesn’t look for recognition but provides great comfort and support to our residents. Celia always steps up and generously participates in our nonprofits, lifting up the community.”
In addition to West Haven, the host community rotates annually among New Haven, North Haven, Branford, East Haven and Hamden, the host of last year’s festival.
West Haven last hosted the “six-town event,” which was a parade before transitioning to a festival, in 2017. The city also hosted in 2011 and 2006.
According to organizers, the committee transitioned the parade to a festival to allow for wider participation.
Hi, I usually sing for the Columbus Day celebration in West Haven. I’ve been trying to contact several people and have not gotten A response as to whether they’d like me to sing or not. It would be my honor and I’d be available if it starts at 12
please let me know if and when I would be singing. I’d be honored to do the Star-Spangled Banner as well as Fratelli Dalia Thank you so much, Elizabeth Levy