97th annual Enfield Italian Festival returns Friday
Aug. 2—ENFIELD — It would appear that nothing can deter members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society from celebrating the values of their Italian ancestors who came as immigrants to this country to work in Thompsonville's Bigelow Mills.
Although the society's traditional annual festival with food and entertainment the first weekend in August didn't take place due to COVID for the past two years, members still celebrated Mass outside the Mount Carmel chapel as usual on the Sundays in 2020 and 2021.
This year's festival opens Friday and continues through Sunday. The hours are 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
"The spirit of what connects us with our past was never canceled," said Carl Sferrazza, president of the society since 2001 and an Enfield native from an Italian-American family.
Yet he understands that other parts of the festival may be more important to members of the public, and rejoices with them that three evenings of entertainment, music, and food on the society's five-acre Park Avenue grounds are finally back after two difficult years.
"I've heard from people near and far how are excited they are to return to the 97th Italian Festival which will be as they know it," Sferrazza said. "People remember coming to this as kids and are now coming with their grandchildren, so it's an important tradition for them."
On Thursday, there will be a candlelight procession at 8:30 p.m. through the streets of the Mount Carmel Society's neighborhood, ending outside the society's chapel with a prayer for peace.
Cakes and pies will be served afterward in a hospitality tent.
Friday will feature two bands: Johnny Sixgun and Savage Brothers. Saturday will feature Night Moves and Trailer Trash.
On Sunday, the music will be by Presley & Taylor. The annual greased pole climb will start at 6:30 p.m.
All are welcome to join society members Sunday morning for the Mass at 8:30 a.m. at the chapel, followed by a procession through the streets of Thompsonville with a float carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary. Along the route, the procession stops at the homes of Mount Carmel Society founders and plays songs for the current tenants.
The society is very particular about the food it serves at the festival, said Sferrazza. "We don't allow outside food vendors," he said. "We feel that preparing all the food ourselves allows us to better control the quality and price."
Sferrazza said he's surely biased but feels the society's reputation for good food is second to none. There will be fried dough, sausage and peppers, macaroni with meatballs, and Italian pastries. "Our food is the cornerstone of this festival," he said. "Everything we do is geared to make this a family event."
Society members prepare for the festival months in advance and have been meeting on the fairgrounds every evening for the past few weeks to set up the food booths. When they've finished working for the night, Sferrazza said they sit together outside and eat dinner, enjoying each other's company.
And that's the point of the festival, he said. There will be carnival rides and music but it's the tradition set back in 1926 that Sferrazza thinks is important.
He said Italian immigrants who settled in Enfield started the almost century-old tradition. "They decided after long days of work to come together with their people and enjoy a meal and family time together," he said. "This is a chance for families and friends today to give thanks for the blessings we have and enjoy camaraderie."
And what if it rains this weekend? "We get a little wet," said Sferrazza. "We work so meticulously for a whole year to prepare the festival, but have always known that the only thing we can't control is weather."
No matter what, Sferrazza said, he predicts nothing will dampen people's spirits this year.
For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.
