The smell of spaghetti and meatball sandwiches wafted through South City Park as Paesano Days was celebrated Friday and Saturday at South City Park.  This was the second year the Sons of Italy festival was held at the park ever since a bocce ball court was built there in 2016. Aside from other fare food such as Italian sausage sandwiches, pasta bowls and cannoli, the big draw was the two-day bocce ball tournament.

Jake Mangas, president and CEO of the Redding Chamber of Commerce, and Kim Niemer, Redding's director of community services, took part in the tournament's ceremonial first roll Friday evening. "We're celebrating our Italian heritage," said Jim Nobili, the current past president of the Sons of Italy Lodge in Redding. "This weekend we hope that everyone becomes an Italian and enjoys their day with us," he said Saturday after playing a round of bocce ball.