SHENANDOAH - It was chilly in downtown Shenandoah on Saturday, but the warmth of Italy was felt in Legion Memorial Garden for the first Columbus Day Italian Garden Party.
The park, located next to the American Legion Anthony P. Damato Medal of Honor Post 792, was filled with the aroma of hot Italian foods made from recipes handed down over the generations from the old country.
When the event opened at 11 a.m., it didn't take long for people to show up, the big draw being the food.
Hosting the event was Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Shenandoah, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2014. The garden party was for the benefit of the celebration in two years.
There were games and face painting for the children. Music throughout the afternoon was provided by DJ Dave "The Captain" Drumblusky, who played plenty of classic Italian songs along with popular hits from Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.
The menu included ethnic favorites like pasta fagiola, Italian wedding soup, pierogies italiano, porketta sandwiches, pasta with pepperoni meat sauce, escarole with cabbage and potatoes, sausage hoagies with peppers and onions, with enough room to serve American hot dogs. A sweet table held all kinds of cakes, cupcakes, cookies and other treats.
Behind the food vending area was the Legion post north wall with the large mural of Damato created by Pottsville artist Martin Braukus. The location for the garden party was appropriate since Damato, a Congressional Medal of Honor awardee from Shenandoah, was also a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Parish member Sue Probition, who was on the garden party organizing committee, said the turnout was better than expected.
"We did not expect this size of a crowd," Probition said. "We are so grateful for them. And the people who brought the goodies were great. Our goodie table is fantastic."
"We just decided we wanted to do something as a fundraiser, and thought why not Columbus Day," Probition said. "It's a nice fall thing, so that's why we're here. The Damato post and Downtown Shenandoah Inc. are helping us out a lot here."
"We heard that it would get close to 60 degrees. We were down here at 7 o'clock, so it was cold," Probition said. "We thought it might be too cold to sit and eat, but many people didn't think so." Probition said the 100th anniversary celebration is being planned for July 18 to 20, 2014, and it should be a blast.
"We're going to hold everything on Italian festival grounds (near the church). We're going to try to do it for as a three-night event, including fireworks, entertainment, everything - one big blowout for our hundredth.
And, of course, we'll have the procession and the Mass." Probition said a dinner dance is being considered for the anniversary, but there are no firm plans at this time.