After a three-year absence, the Stark County Italian-American Festival is back with street food, music, carnival games and the beloved bocce. An annual celebration for the local Stark County Italian-American community since 1987, the festival did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

The three-day event (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) serves as a fundraiser with proceeds funding three to six $2,000 scholarships a year to help cover the college costs of high school graduates of Italian-American heritage. In past years, the festival typically raises $8,000 to $12,000, said the festival's Treasurer Matt Carona.