Sonja and Mark DeJacimo say they have enjoyed attending the Italian Festival in McAlester since its beginnings. “We’ve always experienced the Italian Festival ever since it started,” Mark DeJacimo said. He’s looked forward to seeing who’s been selected as the Festival Re and Regina each year. 

“You’d see people you know,” he said. This year though, the DeJacimos can see the festival royalty by looking into a mirror. They have been selected as Re and Regina of the 2017 Italian Festival. “It’s an honor,” Sonja DeJacimo said. The Italian Festival is Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, at the Southeast Expo Center and the Pittsburg County Fairgrounds, west of McAlester, off U.S. Highway 270.