Desert Arc Brings Italy to Indian Wells, Celebrating All Things Italian!

The 5^th Annual Italian Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, November 7^th & 8^th from 11am to 5pm in Indian Wells at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel. Free general parking and shuttle is located at Miles and HWY 111. Desert Arc hosts over 40 vendors. This will include some of the Valley’s favorite Italian restaurants and the best Italian food vendors from out of town. There will be plenty of shopping available at specialty merchandise and craft vendors. The Festival will open Saturday at 11am with a stirring rendition of the Italian National Anthem by the Desert Arc Choir. Festivalgoers can experience or join in with the Tarantella, a folk dance of Italy. Non-stop entertainment features performances by many of the festival favorites that make this festival so entertaining as well as some engaging new performers. The lovely Joey English will Emcee the event this year.

Don’t miss Avenida Music perform at the Italian Festival Saturday, November 7th @2pm & Sunday November 8th @11:15am. Fun fact all the members of Avenida are brothers and they all work with children and adults with developmental disabilities, and they also sponsor the art program at DesertArc.

And make sure to check out Filippo Voltaggio, Singer/Entertainer and Star of Stage, Radio, TV and Film, perform on the Main stage November 7&8 at 1pm! He’s a crowd favorite!  See full list of entertainers below.

Another new addition is the Foodie Fun Stage – experience food demonstrations such as pizza making, learn how to make your own limoncello, and so much more! The ever popular main stage contests feature spaghetti eating contest and cannoli eating contest. Also, the “Miss Bella Italiana” competition with the winner receiving a $500 scholarship (contestants must be between 16 and 23 with one Italian grandparent).

Fabulous Italian food, non-stop entertainment, a wonderful Family Fun Zone for kids featuring last year’s popular “Italian Festivus” a puppet show created for the Italian Festival by Dandelion Puppeteers. Kids will find plenty of entertainment in the Zone with fun activities including rides; they can have their face painted or even create an Italian mask.

Participate in “La Dolce Vita” with all of the rich culture and traditions of Italy.

Desert Arc, one of the valley’s largest and oldest, non-profit organizations, has provided opportunities for thousands of people with disabilities since 1959. This festival celebrates the Italian influences that have helped Desert Arc become what it is today. Senior Vice President, Mitch Blumberg, shared how the idea came into fruition: “President/CEO, Richard Balocco, suggested to me that Desert Arc create a fall event to complement our annual Spring Golf Tournament. Both are fundraisers. Both just as importantly build and expand awareness of Desert Arc and our mission ‘to enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities.’ I reminded Dick that our campus property in Palm Desert was donated to Desert Arc by the Western Italian Golf Association in 1983, 32 years ago. Dick comes from100% Italian heritage as does his wife, Loretta Ferraro. With these bookends reflecting our Italian heritage and pedigree, an Italian Festival has been the perfect idea for an annual Golf Classic here in the Valley. Many cities around the country have annual Italian Festivals. Now we do too!”

The launching of the festival in its initial year was a bit daunting, admitted Blumberg. But a few inspirational and enthusiastic people came on board early to move the idea to fruition. “We asked Michael Castelli and Chef Brian of Castelli’s Restaurant if they’d participate. They loved the idea and jumped right on board. After that, it was much easier to get everybody else to participate. It was stalwarts like them and Mario, of Mario’s Italian Restaurants, that truly helped us in our success. I remember Mario hand-made cannolis. He had a sign that said, ‘Free Cannoli, but if you like it, please put a dollar in the jar.’ At the end of the event, he handed me $2,500 cash – every single dollar they had made from their two days of work! Fantasy Springs came on board shortly after. It’s people and businesses like these who’ve been participating since the beginning, that have helped to turn this into such a success!”

General Admission is $10. VIP Ticket is $30 and includes entrance to the VIP lounge. Kids 10 and under are free.  Or onsite preferred parking for $20. They expect to welcome 6,000-8,000 attendees.

For more information about the Italian Festival, visit Desert Arc’s website www.desertarc.org or call (760) 346-1611.

Desert Arc is one of the largest and oldest non-profit agencies in the Coachella Valley.  Now in its 56th year, Desert Arc provides social services, vocational training and employment opportunities for 600 adult clients with disabilities.  Desert Arc’s main campus is in Palm Desert with a satellite facility in Yucca Valley and a major Recycling Center in Indio.  Desert Arc’s mission is to “Enhance the quality of life and create opportunities for people with disabilities”.

Food Vendors: The Real Italian Deli, European Desserts, Le Donne Cucina, E. & E. Pel’s Enterprises Inc., Pizzeria Villagio, Mario’s Italian Café, Pellegrino Biscotti Italiani,
Pasquini Coffee, Desert Arc Kitchen, Fisherman’s Market Grill, Funnel Frenzy
Fantasy Springs Casino, Livreri’s Bella Napoli at the Atrium, Juicy Juicy,
Indian Wells Golf Resort/ Vue Grille and Bar, Castelli’s, The Beach Bar, Il Corso

Merchandise/Informational Booth Vendors: Blest Blondies, Sopratutto Per Voi (Especially For You), Italian Children’s Market, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Linda Amato Collection,
Shakeel’s Concepts, Desiderata Gallery, Italian Festival Merchandise, Son’s of Italy,
Loretta Ferraro Home Smart Luxury Real Estate, Desert Recreation District, Winning Ways,
Acqpoint, Diamond Resorts International, Renewal By Anderson, Renova Solar, NRG Home Solar

Entertainment: Filippo Voltaggio, Paul Elia, Patricia Welsh, Desert Arc Choir, Eddie Wakes,
Chef Gino Campagna, Machin’, Avenida, Café Italia Singers, Frank DiSalvo, Pete Astorino,
Italian Festivus – Dandelion Puppeteers, Santina Pellegrino with the Tarantella, Frankie Mamone, Lynne Lockwood, Teo, Spaghetti Eating Contest, Cannoli Eating Contest