⇒ Festa Italiana is the largest fundraiser for The Greater Rockford Italian American Association (GRIAA), along with the men’s and women’s golf play days.

 

⇒ GRIAA has raised $717,000.00 for scholarships over the last 39 years. The scholarship money has gone to students with an Italian background to offset the cost of tuition.

 

⇒ The scholarship money has helped 85 university students, 650 high school students and 715 elementary school students.

 

⇒ There are over 1,000 volunteers throughout Festa weekend.

 

⇒ Festa Italiana attractions include:  carnival rides, continuous entertainment, Italian food, kids crafts and bocce all weekend.

 

⇒ Over 2,000 links of sausage are served during Festa.

 

⇒ Around 1,000 pounds of Italian beef is served during Festa.

 

⇒ Over 4,000 homemade Italian cookies are made for Festa weekend. 

 

⇒ 80-100 gallons of granita are consumed during Festa weekend, and lemon is the best seller.

 

⇒ The bocce tournament hosts 80 games in two days, which is about 40 teams.

 

⇒ Sfingi pastry is one of the best sellers during Festa weekend, and about 160 pounds of sugar and cinnamon are used to coat the sfingi.

 

⇒ The Amici Italiani Dance Troupes learn traditional Italian dances and perform every year at Festa.  They range in age from 6 to 60.