100th Anniversary Plans For Verplanck Italian Feast Unveiled

VERPLANCK, NY — The region's biggest Italian festival is celebrating a big milestone in just a few weeks and you're invited.

The Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel will be celebrating its 100-year-anniversary ("cento anni") from July 10 - July 17 outside the club's banquet hall on the corner of 8th Street and Highland Ave. in Verplanck.

Home of the world's largest tarantella, the Society of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is an Italian heritage social and civic club originally established by a group of immigrants in 1922 to honor the traditions of their hometown, Cittanova in Reggio di Calabria, Italy.

The annual Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a traditional outdoor festival held the third weekend of July and is the Hudson Valley's largest Italian festival. The sausage and pepper sandwiches and Sunday night fireworks at the Italian Feast have become a summer tradition for generations.

On Sunday, July 10, at 10:15 a.m., Cardinal Timothy Dolan will celebrate mass at St. Patrick's church on 11th Street to kick off the weeklong celebration.

There will be eight nights of food and music with fireworks on Wednesday, July 13 and Sunday, July 17.

Food trucks will line the streets Sunday, July 10 and Monday July 11.

Rides and games will arrive Tuesday, July 12 as The Feast continues nightly from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

An Italian mass and a procession through the streets will be held on Sunday, July 17, at 10:15 a.m.

All are welcome! Visit www.olmcv.org for more information.