How does one of the most popular Italian festivals in the area celebrate its 25th anniversary? With lots of "great Italian food, rides, games and live entertainment," said Peter Lucia, spokesman for the St. Jude Festival in Monroe. The event — which runs Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Saturday, Aug. 29 — has grown from a two-day carnival to the current four-day festival, attracting more than 10,000 visitors annually, Lucia said.

Dinner seating for 500 is provided. Among the specialties will be sausage-and-pepper grinders, pizza fritta (fried dough), fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries cooked to order by parishioners. Also ziti and meatballs, chicken or eggplant parmigiana dinners or grinders, broccoli and cavatelli in garlic sauce, pizza and porkette grinders will be supplied by Jennie's Restaurant of Monroe. New this year will be fried chicken.

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Source: http://blog.ctnews.com/