For the first time in the festival’s 14 years, a mother-daughter duo was chosen to reign over the Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival this weekend. Brenda Liuzza, the festival’s madre, and her daughter and festival queen, 21-year-old Faith Liuzza, said they’ve been involved in the celebration all their lives, and the opportunity to serve on the court together gives them an elevated platform to represent their Sicilian culture.

Brenda said her husband cooks the spaghetti gravy each year. As a child, Faith helped her parents set up decorations and run their booth and, of course, enjoyed the fair-style rides and attractions. “I joke that I’m the only madre who has a daughter young enough to run for queen,” Brenda, 62, said. “I was simply overjoyed when I found out Faith won.”