As summer fades, it becomes time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the traditional Patchogue Italian Feast of Saint Liberata. (The namesake of the festival is the patron saint of the village of Pizzone, Italy.) This year’s event will be hosted along Main Street in Patchogue Village on Saturday, Sept. 16, with a rain date of Saturday, Sept. 23.

Patchogue Village trustee Sal Felice from Sal & Ken Felice’s Auto Repair in Blue Point has been named the 2017 Italian-American of the Year. Felice will help kick off the event with the traditional parade of the statue and blessing. This year the procession will start at noon at Seacrest Village, 165 South Ocean Avenue. The blessing will be performed by Father Henry Reid and Deacon Marty McIndoe.