VERO BEACH — For the 28th year, the Italian American Civic Association is opening its doors this weekend to those who want a taste of Italian food and culture. Tasty offerings range from spaghetti and meatballs and pizza to lasagna and zeppoli.
The three-day event, which kicked off Friday, continues Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. Saturday wraps up at 9 p.m., while Sunday ends at 7 p.m. at the association’s building, located at 1600 25th St. The festival has continued to grow year after year.
Last year, volunteers formed 4,000 meatballs and went through 500 pounds of Parmesan cheese, 300 pounds of sausage, 650 pounds of meat and 70 cases of tomatoes. They cooked about 120 pounds of pasta, served 1,800 creampuffs and an untold number of zeppoli.
To keep the festival running smoothly, the association relies on help from about 300 volunteers over the course of the three-day event.
The Italian Food Festival serves as a fundraiser for the organization, which then uses those funds to continue its community service mission by awarding scholarships to high school and charter high school students and providing support to other non-profit groups in the community.
For more information about the Italian American Civic Association, call the organization at (772) 778-1522 or visit the clubhouse, 1600 25th St., Vero Beach.
