It would appear that nothing can deter members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society from celebrating the values of their Italian ancestors who came as immigrants to this country to work in Thompsonville's Bigelow Mills, CT.

Although the society's traditional annual festival with food and entertainment the first weekend in August didn't take place due to COVID for the past two years, members still celebrated Mass outside the Mount Carmel chapel as usual on the Sundays in 2020 and 2021. This year's festival opens Friday and continues through Sunday. The hours are 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.