That tradition will have a more permanent home at Al Quaal starting on Saturday as the group celebrates with the addition of a new pavilion and storage area.

Anthony Bertucci, acting picnic organizer and member of the St. Anthony-St. Rocco Board of Trustees, said the pavilion was the brainchild of his father, chairman of the fest Jim Bertucci, three years ago.

“I would like to credit it to my father Jim, who really was the organizer, the leader of getting this picnic in place, and also for really the spearheading of this pavilion,” Bertucci said.

Bertucci said while the society was responsible for raising over $30,000 for the project as well as the construction of the pavilion, the structure will belong to the city and will be used for other city events throughout the year.

Members of the St. Rocco - St. Anthony Society Dominic Bertucci, Michael Bertucci, and Peter Bertucci, at Al Quaal last week, while Frank Valela looks on. After several years of fundraising, the group was able to donate the structure to the city of Ishpeming. The building will be used for the first time at the 118th annual Italian Fest starting at noon on Saturday. (Courtesy photo, Anthony Bertucci)

The society built the structure as a way to give back to the community, Bertucci said.

“This is the society’s 20th year having the Italian Fest picnic at Al Quaal,” Bertucci said. “This is a way to give back to our community as an Italian heritage organization. We wanted to build something that the city and the community — that we could all — benefit from.”

Bertucci said the Ishpeming Public Works Department took care of the electric installation and Dan Perkins Metal Roofing donated the manufacture and installation of the steel roof on the structure.

The Fest is scheduled to begin at noon Saturday at the Al Quaal Recreation Area with a day-long picnic. There is no admission fee and many of the children’s activities are offered free of charge.

Visitors can once again enjoy homemade Italian food cooked by the Valela family, which is to be sold at the society’s food booth. In addition, various vendors will be serving cudighis, Italian sandwiches, hot dogs, snow cones, ice cream novelties and much more.

Other highlights of Italian Fest include bingo, a greased pole — with a $100 prize, free pony rides, a large glide slide, kids obstacle course, children’s games, games of chance, and several arts and crafts vendors.

The festival will also have musical entertainment including: Soundz of Time with Jan and Gino from 2 to 4 p.m, The Ishpeming Blue Notes will play at 4:30 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. the Diamanti band of Chicago will perform classic contemporary Italian and American music.

Bertucci said he hopes the annual event increases the sense of community in Ishpeming.

“I think it’s a great community event. We as Italian-Americans like to remember our heritage and promote it, but at the same time we want to benefit the community,” Bertucci said. “All kids games are free and we try to have a family environment.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.