If this year’s Monterey’s Annual Festa Italia is any indication, the three-day festival that’s rooted in the city’s Sicilian history and that of its local fishermen, still runs deep. In its 86th year, as one of the oldest running festivals in the state, it featured Italian cuisine, music, dancing, raffles and a bocce ball tournament. It also included the traditional blessing of the fishing fleet. This year, the festival received its own blessing of sorts – that of warm temperatures and blue skies.

“It’s the highlight of the year for me,” said local restaurateur Kevin Phillips, who owns and runs multiple Peninsula eateries including both the Beach House at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove and Abalonetti Bar & Grill on Fisherman’s Wharf. “It’s such a local festival and all the generations that have an attachment to it.”