Americans of Italian descent may not dominate the population in Arkansas — according to Statistical Atlas, only 1.6 percent of the state’s residents report Italian ancestry — but you couldn’t tell by two events in April.

The opening of the Little Italy Arkansas Heritage Society Museum, also known as the the Little Italy Museum, and the Arkansas Italian Food and Culture Festival will push wine, pasta and other aspects of Italian culture and impact to the forefront. Both efforts celebrate Italians’ contribution to the state from agriculture and business to religion and the arts and both are spearheaded by Catholics bent on honoring their forebears.