We are happy to announce that a portion of the 

Children’s Cancer Connection was established in 1988 to provide programs and services to children battling childhood cancer. Quickly it was obvious that the disease not only affects the child but it also affects the entire family. Their programs and services have grown with this in mind: The entire family. The entire journey.

Today, Children’s Cancer Connection offers a large variety of programs and services centered on a mission of enhancing the lives of families affected by childhood cancer by providing quality programs for education, recreation and support. Their services include: Camps & Retreats, Hospital-Based Programs, Support Services & Family Outings, and Survivorship Services.

Children’s Cancer Connection serves all families affected by childhood cancer who are living, treated, or diagnosed in the state of Iowa, regardless of treatment outcome. Their programs and services are offered at little or no cost, and no one is ever turned away because of financial consideration.

For more information about Children’s Cancer Connection, please visit their website.

David Marker

David Marker, the director of the feature-length film Zampogna: The Soul of Southern Italy, will be at this year’s Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa to demonstrate the zampogna and other traditional Italian musical instruments.

Marker, a 2009 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, spent five weeks with his cousins in Sicily during the summer of 2007 and purchased a zampogna, a traditional Italian bagpipe.   “The music was so raw and genuine,” said Marker.  ”To me it was the most pure expression of what was truly ‘Italian.’  There was a real beauty in it. I felt proud that it was a part of my cultural past.”

He brought the instrument back to the United States and began to teach himself how to play it. “I knew that I had to tell the story of this music and this disappearing traditional culture — not just the culture of the music, but what the music represents, which is an agrarian pastoral culture, a handmade culture in tune with its natural surroundings that values the methodical rhythm of every day life, good and bad. The zampogna was the physical manifestation of this culture, its human expression.”

Marker returned to Italy and filmed his documentary during the summer of 2008 in Sicily, Calabria, Campania and Molise (Scapoli).  His film debuted at the Kansas City Filmfest in April of 2010.   The film played last year at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute and at the World Music and Independent Film Festival.  The film is now available on DVD.

The Snacks

By popular demand, the Snacks will be back at the 2013 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa!

The Snacks have been called “The Most Original Cover Band you’ll Ever See”.  Their act has been referred to as part theater and part comedy, topped off with musical genius – and don’t forget to add the top hats and bowties!

The Des Moines-based band is made up of Jeff Karnowski on drums/vocals and Michael Pfaff on keyboards/vocals – that’s it!  When they’re in between studio time and tours you can catch them around town, most commonly at the Underground, Air Lanes, the downtown farmers’ market, or at one of many local wedding receptions where they are fast becoming the DJ alternative.

So what makes them original?  Come out to the festival and see for yourself!

Visit the Snacks’ website.

The mass will be celebrated on the main stage located in the Western Gateway Park area of downtown Des  Moines.  Two rehearsals are planned and all music will be provided.

If interested in being a part of this year’s choir, please contact Cultural committee chair Patricia Civitate at 244-4672 or 250-8804.

A mass honoring the elderly will be held on the main stage of the Viva L’Italia Festival on Saturday afternoon, July 27th. 

Italian men and women 80 years of age or older are asked to send or bring their names, addresses and date of birth to:

The Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa
Attn: Festival Liturgy
1961 Indianola Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50315

Please submit your information by July 2, 2013 for inclusion in the Mass booklet.

If you have wedding photos that you would like to submit, please be aware that we will scan the pictures and return them to you immediately.  Along with the pictures, we will need the wedding date and the names of the bride (maiden name) and groom.  If it is a group picture, then we would also like the names of those in the picture (by row, left to right), including the maiden/married names of the ladies in the photograph. This is the same for any ring bearers, junior bridesmaids and/or flower girls.

If you have pictures to share but do not have any or all of the names, don’t hesitate to bring them to us.  We have had several wedding photos on display in the flip chart that have been identified by festival-goers.  This is a fun project and we would appreciate any and all help you can give us.

If you can be of assistance, please contact Cultural committee chair Patricia Civitate at 244-4672 or 250-8804.

In 2013, our regional focus will be on the Italian regions of Emilia Romagna and Campania.  This theme will be carried out in the chef demonstrations and in the Cultural Hall displays. You can expect to see regional dress (both male and female), travel brochures and artifacts from the two Italian regions.

At this time, the festival’s Cultural/Events committee is gathering information and/or artifacts from individuals or their families who would have costumes, pictures or other objects from Emilia Romagna and Campania to share at the festival.  Everything will be considered on loan and will be carefully guarded during the festival.  If you can be of assistance, please contact committee chair Patricia Civitate at 244-4672 or 250-8804.

Gina Severino Gedler

Gina Severino Gedler is a regular to the Des Moines entertainment scene and has been performing for over 30 years.  She has had the privilege of appearing in numerous musicals on stage and many various professional acts throughout the state and outside of the state as well.

As of late she has been enjoying singing around Des Moines, with her small combo of musicians, in various restaurant and lounge venues. She is also the lead vocalist with the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Orchestra and the Soya Vista Jazz Combo.

Her most recent stage performances include: “Souvenir” at the Civic Center Stoner Theater for StageWest; “Utopia” at the Tall Grass Theater for Right Brain Productions; and some past performances which include “Chicago”, “Gypsy”, “West Side Story”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, and “Into the Woods” for the Des Moines Playhouse. She has also been involved with Entertainment to Go for over 19 years as: “Sugar” in the “Joey Libido and Sugar Show”.

Gina will be performing with piano accompanist Ben Hagen.   Ben has been involved with many different music venues throughout the City of Des Moines and outside of the state as well.  He is the piano accompanist for the Des Moines Men’s Choir, Princess Cruises Showband, and the Old Gold Singers.  He has also been the accompanist for several professional artists, including Simon Estes, Nick Lane, and Amy Wagar.  You can catch him playing live music around the Des Moines area with his self-named trio and cover band DC and the Itchy Six.

Gina and Ben will perform at 11:00 am on Saturday morning at this year’s festival.

The Flying Marsupials

The Flying Marsupials formed in 1989 and played in central Iowa through 2003. The party-loving cover band played everything from bars and weddings to huge venues and outdoor festivals.

Over the years, “The Supes” opened for many big-name acts, including Lynyrrd Skynyrrd, .38 Special, Cheap Trick, Loverboy, Eddie Money, Little River Band and many others. The Flying Marsupials were known as Des Moines’ #1 party band for many years, and still get together a few times each year to relive the party and put on their classic, high energy show.

After performing at the inaugural Italian Heritage Festival of Iowa in 2010, “The Supes” are back again at this year’s festival to entertain at 9:30 pm on Friday night.

Vince Chiarelli

Vince Chiarelli comes from a blood-line of musical tradition.  He inherited his name and musical talent from his grandfather who is well known around Rockford as “Vince the Singing Tailor”.

Starting when he was 18 months old, the younger Vince showed everyone his singing ability. Today, the 22-year-old from Rockford, Illinois makes his voice heard by writing both his own music and continuing to play the traditional Italian music taught to him by his grandfather.  In addition to playing authentic Italian and Sicilian music, Vince plays classic standards, lounge music, and other popular hits from artists such as, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, and many more.

Vince is quite a busy guy.  While pursuing a master’s degree in accounting, he also runs Rockford College Radio (which he resurrected from 20 years of silence), and operates a record label, Vincent Records, established by his grandfather.  He also works as an accountant/bookkeeper for small businesses, the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and his family’s enterprises.  And, last but not least, Vince fronts his working band, the Vince Chiarelli Band, just about every weekend, playing original Italian and American music all over the Illinois/Wisconsin border and at Italian festivals across the Midwest.

Vince embraces a philosophy in life that he adapted from his grandfather: “Be happy for everyone, and everyone will be happy for you.”  Vince Chiarelli and his band are an experience you will not want to miss!

Vince Chiarelli and his band will perform at noon on Saturday of this year’s festival.

Watch this video to learn more about the relationship between Vince Chiarelli and his grandfather:

Ron Kennebeck (keyboards and vocals) and Wade Krieg (guitars and vocals) have played together since 1992, and together formed the heart of the popular band Subdivisions in the late 1990’s.  A masterful keyboard player and wonderfully evocative vocalist, Ron has played in numerous central Iowa and regional touring bands for over 25 years.  He also plays the accordion, giving the band the added dimension of playing Louisiana-style zydeco music and other related styles.

Wade is also a veteran of the central Iowa music scene, having performed in many local bands in a career spanning more than 30 years. Wade specializes in a variety of blues and rock stylings, and with Ron and on his own has released 3 CD’s of his original music.

Add Brian Kohlwes (bass/vocals) and Rick Maly (drums), both veterans of the local music scene in their own right, and The Sons of Glady Kravitz produce outstanding harmonies lifting the songs from the past to a stratospheric level.

The Sons of Gladys Kravitz will perform at 9:30 pm on Saturday night of this year’s festival.

Vendor applications will be accepted through April 15, 2013.

To be a part of this year’s festival, please fill out the 2013 Vendor Application Form.

Cristina Fontanelli has become a well-known personality through her recordings, her appearances on TV, radio, in concert, nightclubs, and opera, and through her acting debut on network television.  Her most recent accomplishment is as PBS Host for Andrea Bocelli’s historic free concert in Central Park also starring Celine Dion, David Foster and Tony Bennett.  This year, she makes her first appearance at the Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa.

Ms. Fontanelli was born in Brooklyn, New York of Italian heritage and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has also attended the Julliard School in New York.

She is a favorite guest artist with many prestigious orchestras including the Boston Pops and the St. Louis Symphony performing in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and the world, including the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers, the Philadelphia Academy of Music, and major concert halls throughout the Far East and Canada.

Cristina’s beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton’s holiday celebration and the Stars and Stripes Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush.

Many major publications, including The New York Times, have praised Ms. Fontanelli’s singing as having “technical ease” and “flaunting bravura”, but perhaps this quote taken from a recent review best sums up the artistry of this versatile soprano – she is a “show stopper”.

Cristina will perform at 6:30 pm on both nights of this year’s festival.

2012 Festival Best Sauce Winners and Judges

The 2013 Festival Best Sauce contest will be held on Saturday, July 27th.  Advanced registration is required.  Upon receipt of registration, the contestants will be notified by mail with additional information regarding the time when the sauce should be brought to the West Performance/Demonstration tent.

Deadline for registration is July 6, 2013. Registrations, which should include your name and full address and be postmarked by July 6, 2013, can be mailed to:

Best Sauce Contest
The Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa
1961 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315

Alexis Nelson, 2012 Festival Queen

The 2013 Festival Queen contest is open to young ladies of Italian descent, residing in Iowa, who are between 17 and 23 years of age.

The young ladies will be judged on personality, poise, appearance, community involvement, and overall presentation.  Immediately upon receipt of each contestant’s contestant’s entry, a confirmation letter containing instructions will be sent.

Three awards will be given: queen, first runner-up, and third place.  Final judging will take place on the festival’s Main Stage on Friday evening, July 26th.  Deadline for entries will be July 6, 2013.

For the Queen Contest registration form, click here.

Franco Corso

The Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa is proud to announce that Franco Corso will headline this year’s entertainment lineup, backed by a full 9-piece orchestra.

With a voice that melts hearts and instills passion, Franco Corso, The Voice of Romance, is the newest Italian singing sensation in America. His distinctive and powerful baritone voice has been called both elegant and provocative.

Born and raised in San Remo, Italy, Franco grew up filling his lungs with sea-kissed Mediterranean air. He spent most of his childhood with his grandparents in Ventimiglia, Italy, who taught him all things Italian, from food to romance, art and literature. By the age of 8 he was singing in the church choir and at the age of 11 he was performing at private and public events throughout Italy and Europe. As an adult, the crooner came out West on a chance trip to America and fell in love.

Inspired by Sergio Franchi, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti, Franco’s flavor is distinctly global and layered by experience.

You can catch Franco performing at 8:00 pm on both nights of this year’s festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFXdIQhK-Xg

2012 Festival Artistic Scholarship Contest Entries

The Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa will present the 4th Annual Italian American Heritage Festival on July 26th and 27^th, 2013  in the Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines, IA.

The Festival will once again be awarding $3,000 in Artistic Scholarships to talented young artists or photographers of Italian descent residing in Iowa who will be attending a college, university, or art institute in the fall.

New this year is a Multimedia contest for high school or college/university students of Italian descent.  Multimedia entries in this year’s contest will use the theme, “The Influence of Italian Culture in America” for their presentation.

For more information and entry forms, please visit our festival contests page.

Planning has already begun for the 2013 festival, which will be held on July 26 & 27, 2013 at the Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines.

Keep visiting this website to check on the progress of the 2013 Italian American Heritage Festival of Iowa.

Until then, enjoy these photos from the 2012 festival!