McAlester's Italian Festival will once again feature Italian food, lots of live music and all sorts of arts and crafts booths — but it does include a major change when compared to festivals of years past. This year's annual Italian festival is set for Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11 at the Southeast Expo Center and Pittsburg County Fairgrounds.

That makes it different from past festivals — because this year, no Sunday date is included. Bobby Lenardo of the Italian Festival Committee said one of the reasons a Sunday date is not included this year is because May 12 is Mother's Day. Having Sunday off will give many of the volunteer workers at the event a chance to spend some time with their respective mothers.