With the start of fall comes plenty of treats, good company and outdoor entertainment to help ring in the new season. And this weekend, Festa Italiana greets fall with plenty of reasons to celebrate. Ginnie Lostumbo and Linda DeFrancisco, the president and founders of Festa Italiana, are excited to kick off the 20th anniversary of the festival this weekend. But beyond the platefuls of meatballs and traditional music comes a greater emphasis on family.

“We wanted to focus on family and have chosen to bring a lot of performers back who have performed for us in the past,” Lostumbo said.  The three-day event features a series of live music performances, along with bocce tournaments and meatball-eating contests. For visitors looking to indulge in some traditional dishes, there will be food trucks offering authentic Italian cuisine, wine and beer. Sunday will close out the event with a free bocce training in the afternoon, along with a Roman Catholic Mass on Sunday morning.