The John Michael Marino Lodge Italian festival is once again offering people the chance to transition out of summer, going from hot dogs and hamburgers to authentic Italian cuisine and other festival treats. The festival, which will be held at North Hempstead Beach Park at 175 West Shore Road (Parking Lot 2), will run from Sept. 4 to Sept. 7. This is the 44th festival which started in 1979.
Hours of the Festival are as follows:
Thursday 9/4/25 - 6 PM to 11 PM; Friday 9/5/25 - 6 PM to 11 PM; Saturday 9/6/25 - 2 PM to 11 PM; Sunday 9/7/25 - Noon to 9 PM.
The purpose of the Italian festival is primarily to raise funds for the various scholarships and charity awards that the Lodge, which is part of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, distributes each year.
The John Michael Marino Lodge, with the help of the money raised during previous Italian festivals, has awarded over 460 scholarships through the years to high school students.
The Lodge has also donated money to local charities, including the Port Washington Ambulance Fund, Port Washington Library Foundation, the Port Youth Activities, the Port Washington Manhasset Chapter of Cancer Care, the VFW, the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society and others.
The festival will feature various types of pasta dishes, including a festival favorite, pasta fagioli, ziti, meatball heroes, eggplant parmesan, and rice balls. Additional food vendors will be serving sausage and peppers, pizza, tacos and various other festival food.
In addition to the main food tent and the other food vendors, there is also a pastry tent where there will be Italian pastries including cannoli, cappuccinos, espressos and regular coffee, too. The festival favorite zeppole will also be available.
The festival is packed with live entertainment starting Thursday 9/4/25 with Live Karaoke from 7 PM to 11 PM. On Friday 9/5/25 the hours are 7 PM to 11 PM with the band Decadia performing; Saturday 9/6/25 there will be a Live-On-Air Radio Host from 2 PM to 5 PM followed by “Any Way You Want It” band from 7 PM to 11 PM. On Sunday 9/7/25 the festival opens at Noon with DJ Domenick Raccuglia will have Italian and American dance favorites followed by Italian Singer Carmelo Raccuglia until 9 PM.
Fireworks will be on Saturday night and Sunday will feature Italian Sports Cars on Display.
Blue Sky Amusement, a company that provides festivals and fairs with great carnival rides, will be providing a large number carnival rides which are always the favorite of the crowds.
The festival costs $5 per car, and rides and food are a separate cost. Pay one price wristbands will be available on all days.
Aside from the food vendors, there will be vendors selling jewelry and many other products.
Visit www.marinolodge.org or Facebook: JMML1389 for more information and to download and print the festival flyer with all the entertainment details.