For many, the annual Taste of Italy not only preserves Italian heritage, it promotes acceptance and diversity within the community. The 26th annual food festival returned to downtown Norwich Saturday featuring dozens of repeat vendors, restaurants, musicians and dancers, and cultural diversity at Howard T. Brown Memorial Park.

“We talk a lot about cultural diversity. We’ve been doing that for 26 years,” said Frank Manfredi, vice president of the Italian Heritage Cultural Committee and chairman of this year’s Taste of Italy. “This festival proves that diverse cultures can be integrated into the Norwich culture at large.”