CLINTON —
Wet weather might dampen the pavement of Clinton this weekend, but the spirit of Italy flows on nonetheless.
Participation was light Saturday afternoon as a gray drizzle misted Clinton’s downtown. But organizers of the 47th Annual Little Italy Festival agreed that a little rain won’t spoil their tradition of fun, scheduled through Monday evening.
George Carey, an organizer now in his 44th year of participation, said Friday evening’s parade drew nearly 30,000 people as 91 entries streamed along a two-mile route for more than two hours.
The weekend’s storm front hadn’t yet rolled into town, and the clear, warm night brought out record numbers.
“Last night we had a terrific crowd,” Carey said Saturday, noting the rain had slowed that day’s participation. “It’s not helping us. But I think we’re on the tail end of it. Everything is rolling. Nothing’s been canceled.”
Sharon Vorek, chair of the Little Italy Festival Town’s entertainment committee, said more than 300 volunteers work to make the Labor Day Weekend project a success, and whether the weather cooperated, activities would continue.
“Yesterday it was fantastic. We have a little bit of rain today, but that’s not going to stop us,” she said.
And purple-shirted dancers strutted before noon, down on the east end of Water Street near the LIFT main stage. Watched mostly by their parents along a sidewalk full of puddles, children bounced about the darkened pavement to traditional Italian tunes. Across the street, vendors offered fare from Italian beef to deep fried vegetables, just as they have for nearly half a century.
Jessica Leach, 19, 2012 Festival Grape Queen, said tradition is key to the event. Now an Indiana State University student, the Hillsdale native spent her childhood at the festival, raised on events from cheerleading to dance since pre-school.
“At least it’s not pouring,” she said, wearing the purple sash of her office over a traditional Italian dress. “I really excited about that.”
In 1966, the town’s Lions Club and other groups wanted to establish a festival for the community. Drawing on the Italian heritage shared by many residents whose families immigrated here for mining jobs, they created what would become the Little Italy Festival, she said, adding it was so successful the tradition has simply grown ever since.
From dancing to spaghetti, music to talent contests, Leach said the whole weekend atmosphere combines into her favorite time of year.
“It’s everything together,” she said, noting she especially enjoys the grape stomping. “They’re really cold and super squishy.”
And both John and Diane Scott, the 2012 Little Italy Festival Re and Regina, proudly wore pins on their shirts which read, “I Stompa Da Grapes.”
The grandchildren of immigrants, the Scotts are now grandparents themselves, and said the festival serves as a homecoming for Vermillion County residents wherever they might be.
Diane said both sets of their grandparents came to America from Italy, England and Scotland around the turn of the 20th century, all looking for jobs in the coal mines. For 120 years, their families have soaked in the culture of Clinton. Both graduated from Clinton High School and today own Scott Oil Inc., which was founded in 1945 by John’s parents.
“Actually, it’s better than we expected,” she said of Saturday afternoon’s crowd. “It’s not a downpour. We think we can fight through these little showers.”
Bob Parr was likewise optimistic that afternoon, carrying on his own family tradition, selling Italian beef and other concessions near the corner of South Water and Elm streets. The words “Parr Concessions, 1946” were painted on the side of his stand.
“I started it with my father,” he said of the business with roots in an old race track located on Maple Avenue in Terre Haute. “This trailer is 59 years old. My father built it from the frame up.”
A welder by trade, his father started the business on the side, selling peanuts, popcorn and cotton candy to people at the race track. He kept the enterprise going while Bob served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. This year marks the 19th year for Parr Concessions to be at the Little Italy Festival, he said, pointing out he’s been in the same location for each, right across from Mike’s Motors.
The crowd was strong Friday, slow Saturday, and Parr said he was hoping for good push today and tomorrow.
“It’ll work out,” he said. “We have a good following here.”
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Queen: Jessica Leach is the 2012 Queen of Grapes for the annual Little Italy Festival.
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Rain?: A large group of dancers perform at the Little Italy Festival between raindrops Saturday afternoon.
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Same subs: Bob Parr's Italian Subs is sitting at the same location for his 19th consecutive year at the Little Italy Festival. Bob has been in the concession business since 1946.
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Same location: Bob Parr of Terre Haute has been in the same location at the Little Italy Festival for 19 years and has been in business since 1946.
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Re and Regina: John and Diana Scott are the 2012 Re and Regina for the annual Little Italy Festival. Saturday morning events were slowed by periods of rain.
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Mr. Beefy's: Doug Gresham works with Ashley Walts (center) and his wife Kelli (L) as they prepare for the day's activities at the Little Itally Festival.
Discussion
Little rain can’t stop Little Italy Festival
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