Small Bites

The festival, where you can taste pizza, sausage and peppers, Italian subs, pasta dishes, Italian barbeque items, cannolis, zepolles, biscotti, ice cream, Italian ices, Italian-style wines and much more, will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 14 in downtown Congers. More than 50 booths will be there.

The press release and the list of vendors after the jump.

Rotary to Expand Congers Italian Festival
September Event to Feature More Vendors & Entertainment

CONGERS, NY – The Rotary Club of Congers-Valley Cottage has announced that a greatly expanded Congers Italian Festival will take place on Sunday, September 14th, from 11am to 7pm, in downtown Congers, New York, on Burnside Avenue and in Congers Station Park.  This event, which has free admission, will feature authentic Italian food and music, as well as children’s activities, wine tasting, beer tasting and a grape stomping competition.
The Congers Italian Festival will feature more than 50 vendor booths including La Triestina, Romolo’s, Rick’s Club American, Grande Centrale, Bella’s Biscotti, The Little Bake Shop, Red Jacket Orchards, Wine Cellar Sorbet, Prospero Winery, Spacey Tracy, Awesome Specialty Foods, Pickle Licious, Philli Dees Tees, Ives Cream and many others.
On the menu of items being offered are fresh, locally-produced specialties including pizza, sausage & peppers, Italian subs, pasta dishes, Italian barbeque items, cannolis, zepolles, biscotti, ice cream, Italian ices, Italian-style wines and much more.  A variety of other foods and beverages will also be offered including ever-popular items such as kettle corn, pickles, chocolates, maple syrup, honey, juice drinks and farm fresh produce.  In addition, Italian t-shirts, novelties, handmade jewelry and other gift items will be available.
Vendors will be setup “street fair” style on Burnside Avenue, in front of the restored Congers Train Station, just off of Lake Road in Congers.  The Town of Clarkstown Parks & Recreation Department will be providing entertainment during the day in the adjoining Congers Station Park.  Attendees are welcome to bring folding chairs to enjoy a variety of musical acts including the traditional Italian folk music band I-Forestieri, a cappella group “Wide Variety,” Long Island-based rock group “The Mondays” and local favorite “Special Blend.”  Between performances, DJ Bobby Caggiano will be spinning some popular tunes from Italy, as well as Italian-American favorites by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others.  Four “bounce house” inflatables will be available for children, as will sand and spin art booths.
Headline sponsors of the Congers Italian Festival include The Journal News, LoHud.com and Rockland Express.  The festival is receiving major funding from the Provident Bank and the Palisades Center.  Additional sponsors include The Town of Clarkstown, Brega Transport Corp., Charles Schwab & Company, Gilman & Ciocia, Debbie McGuinness State Farm Agency, KA House of Bounce, Sunrise Assisted Living of New City, La Triestina Restaurant, Romolo’s Fine Italian Cuisine and Rick’s Club American.  The Rotary Club also acknowledges the support of Wachovia Securities.
The Rotary Club of Congers-Valley Cottage is a chapter of Rotary International, which has 1.2 million men and women members globally.  Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.  Locally, Rotary has actively participated in the Congers downtown revitalization efforts and Meals-On-Wheels food distribution, plus provides scholarships, supports hospitals and contributes to many other deserving charities.
Baum Image Group, Inc., of Valley Cottage, New York, is the creator and organizer of The Congers Italian Festival.  Previously, the company had created a number of notable events including Chocolate World Expo and the New York Chocolate Expo, as well as the official Woodstock 35th Anniversary Celebration in 2004.
For more information about The Congers Italian Festival including driving directions, parking areas and rain date scheduling, please visit:  www.CongersItalianFestival.com.

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(Photos/Baum Image Group, Inc.)