Italian Culture on Display at the New Rochelle Library

To celebrate Italian Heritage and Cultural Month, families and friends came to the New Rochelle Public Library Saturday to learn about Italian culture.  

Barbara Davis, community relations coordinator for the library, said the event was another one of the BID Family Days Go Global series and was part of Italian Heritage and Culture Month. 

This was another way to appreciate New Rochelle's variety of cultures,” she said.
   
The festival included a music and dance show by the Coro d’Italia, a singing and dancing group who performed traditional Italian favorites including the famous Tarantella.  

They even taught the audience what Coro d’Italia means, translating to the choir of Italy.  

Tables were set up for children to create projects inspired by Italian vetrate artistiche—or stained glass windows. The instructors running the arts and crafts tables taught the young children what each project was about and why it was important to the Italian culture.  

Gina Nardella, of New Rochelle said it was my first time attending this festival and will definitely be back next year. 

“The vendors were all so unique,” she said, “and it was great to be able to try different foods and learn about art while listening to traditional Italian music with my family.”
  
The Business Improvement District Family Days will be hosting free events throughout October and November.  Some include The Family Fun Fall Festivals and the Costume Parade followed by a Pumpkin-Painting event.  

During the festival, the weekly Grand Market presented local restaurants, bakeries, fruits and vegetables stands and even a knife sharpening table. The selection of items being sold included gourmet items and ethnic prepared foods.