Over one weekend near the end of summer each year, Wickliffe becomes the center of the Midwest's bocce community. More than 100 teams and upward of 12,000 spectators will descend on the city's Italian-American Club for the 36th annual Pat O'Brien Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce. The region's largest bocce tournament, containing more than $23,000 in prize money, takes place Aug. 23-25. 

Tongue-in-cheek, tournament director Paul DiCicco and former director Gino Latessa describe the hectic days of preparation ahead of the tournament as "heaven week." But over a weekend filled with entertainment, live music and bocce, the Italian-American Club and its members are thrilled to display their heritage.