ISDA Lodge Throws First Italian Fest to Be Held in Northern Indiana


Festa Italiana promoted Italian culture in the region while helping recruit new members to ISDA.

The following article, written by Jim Masters, appears on NWItimes.com.

Adam Muntean looked up from his empty bowl of pasta and was quite red-faced.

It wasn’t a look of embarrassment, but a smear of tomato sauce across the 12-year-old’s huge grin for just having won a spaghetti eating contest Saturday at the inaugural Festa Italiana at Villa Cesare, 900 Eagle Ridge Drive.

Muntean, of Munster, bested six other boys and girls in his pre-teen age group, finishing the hands- and fork-free eating contest in under five minutes.

“It was a lot of fun, but I am pretty full,” he said. “This festival is really cool. It makes me proud to be Italian.”

Celebrating Italian pride and culture was the impetus behind the two-day festival, which kicked off Friday. The event, sponsored by the Italian-American Organization Cesare Battisti Lodge No. 27, a local chapter of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America, was billed as the first Italian festival held in Northwest Indiana.

Festival chairman Jon Biancardi, of Schererville, said Festa Italiana is promoting Italian culture in the Region while helping recruit new members to the 150-strong Italian-American club. Continue reading at NWItimes.com.

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