Jay King of Fridley is a third-generation Italian-American, on his mom's side of the family.
When he joined the planning committee for the Festa Italiana, a relatively new festival that celebrates Italian heritage in Minnesota, "it was like coming home," he said. In fact, he found out that one committee member is a distant cousin, he said.
The festival that's happening this weekend in Shoreview is for everyone, though, and it's jam-packed with events reflecting that Italian-Americans in Minnesota have made their mark on everything from railroads to food to music.
Source: http://www.startribune.com
