Friday Night, May 16 Bash Heralds Weekend of Family Fun

Friday Night Pasta Dinner Kicks off Philadelphia's Biggest Block Party!

Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 2008
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Great Food, Great People!
Great Fun For The Entire Family!

PLEASE NOTE:  PASTA DINNER RESCHEDULED... NEW DATE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008.

Weekend-long festival activities begin in earnest on Saturday when we kick off the two day Inaugural John Marzano 9th Street Italian Market Festival Halfball Tournament presented by Conestoga Bank.  Entry fee is $100 per team (teams can have five players, field three) and 64 teams will vie for the championship (Your team isn't registered?  What, you can't hit a floater?)  Each player receives a commemorative t-shirt and Triple Play Sports provides the bats and balls. Proceeds benefit the Marzano Family Education Fund and the Festival Production Fund.

Live Performances - We’ve got it all: from Bob Pantano’s Sounds of Philly Show to hard blues; alternative to Turkish; opera to klezmer. Three stages offer non-stop musical entertainment, including:

The Sorrento Cheese Music Mainstage - Bob Pantano’s Sounds of Philly Show presented by Methodist Hospital Show featuring Purple Reign's Sound of Philly Salute starring Philadelphia soul legends The Tymes

The Heritage Performance Stage presented by Comcast - An exciting mix of Ethno Music performers hosted by on-air personalities from Comcast and CN8

Philly Mix Music Stage presented by Connie's Ric Rac South Philly's hippest cabaret goes outdoors to serve up a live mix of rock, alternative, jazz, folk and hip-hop performers all weekend long.

Sorrento Cheese Sampling Booth - Don't miss the special FREE treats at the Sorrento Cheese exhibit.  Known for offering some wonderful dishes to sample over the past few years you'll agree this time they've outdone themselves.  Visitors to their display at 9th & Montrose will enjoy Fresh Mozerella Skewers with Lemon Marinated Steak.  Yum!  And be sure to pick up their colorful recipe brochure that includes delicious Sorrento Cheese products...including their amazing Fresh Mozerella. 

Chrysler Mobile Tour - Check out the newest Chrysler vehicles when you take a closed course test drive in the Italian Market at 9th & Christian Streets! The Chrysler test drive vehicles include the redesigned Town & Country, Sebring Hardtop Convertible, Aspen 4x4, and of course the 300C. Experience your favorite vehicle from behind the wheel and explore innovative features like Electronic Stability Program[1] (ESP), MyGIG® multimedia system[2] and Stow 'n Go® and Swivel ' n Go™ seating systems.

ACME Markets Pastapalooza - Acme Markets has challenged their shoppers to enter their favorite pasta recipes in Pastapalooza, a contest to win a Grand Prize of $1000 in groceries from Acme and a trip for two to Napa Valley! Contest sponsored by WOGL and Acme. 10 finalists from regional competitions will present their entries for judging at High Noon on Saturday, May 17 at the Sorrento Cheese Music Mainstage. Hosted by WOGL’s one and only Bob Pantano, he'll guide the judges, contestants and audience through what promises to be a fun and entertaining hour.

St. Paul Parish Procession of Saints - Regarded as the region's largest and oldest such event, parishoners from St. Paul Parish escort nearly 20 statues through the Italian Market.  Beginning Sunday morning between 11:00 and 11:30 at St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi Church (7th & Montrose), the Procession of Saints pauses at 9th & Washington for a Blessing of the Market (approximately noon) before concluding with a Benediction at the steps of St. Paul Church (9th & Christian).  A beautiful, sacred tradition that celebrates the Blessed Mother.  Please click here to view some photographs from last year's Procession.