Italian-American Days Celebration Memorial Day weekend in Benld

The Italian Club of Benld, a non-profit organization, invites everyone to the Benld City Park on May 26, 27 and 28 to celebrate the 69th Annual Italian-American Days Festival. The festival is known throughout the state of Illinois for its Italian foods and games.

The weekend begins on Friday, May 26, with the park opening at 4 p.m. Connor Family Amusements will offer carnival armbands from 6-10 p.m. allowing anyone to ride as often as they like for $25. The OWLZ will provide music for your listening and dancing pleasure from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

On Saturday, May 27, the Benld Italian Club Car Show will kick off that day’s festivities. The event will be held in the Benld City Park (rain or shine) with registration being held from 8-11 a.m. The registration fee is $20. Professional judging begins at noon with trophies being presented after judging. The first 70 entries will receive a car show T-shirt and a dash plaque sponsored by Kravanya Funeral Homes. Food and refreshments will be available for sale on site.

Saturday’s activities will continue with the park opening at 11 a.m. Carnival armbands will be offered again from 12- 4 p.m. and again from 6-10 p.m. for $25. Music will be provided by Jorrells from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 28, is the highlight of the weekend. Between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., one ton of free spaghetti will be served at the park’s lunch stand. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day. Fat Chance will perform from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Syner-Gee will follow from 2:30-6 p.m. Big Shake Daddies will perform from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Also, on Sunday afternoon from 12-4 p.m., carnival armbands will once again be available for $25.

The bocce ball tournament will be played on Sunday starting at noon. Registration begins at 11 a.m. in the beer stand. Carnival armband rides will be offered again from 6-10 p.m.

Throughout the weekend, there will be plenty of food, rides, drinks, and fun. Italian specialties including tortellini soup, homemade Italian salami, meatball sandwiches, bagna caulda, and cannolis will be available in the specialty stand, where you will also be able to purchase various Italian novelty items including the annual festival shirts. The lunch stand will provide favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and Italian beef. The fish stand will be serving fish sandwiches and fries every evening.

Bingo will be played every night beginning at 7 p.m.