Italian Festival Coming to Montville

Montville UNICO is bringing the sounds and flavors of Italy to with a four-day San Gennaro feast this month.

The feast and festival is at the field behind the . It will feature carnival rides, Italian music, Italian food and more, according to Gene Maddalena, a Montville UNICO member and co-chair of the event.

Maddalena said it is only fitting that UNICO sponsors the event.

"UNICO is the largest Italian-American service organization in the country," he said.

The civic organization offers scholarships and grants to residents of Montville and neighboring communities. UNICO also helps provide service to families in need, including to families last Thanksgiving, Maddalena said.

Montville UNICO will sponsor the event but proceeds will help support the organization. This is the first year UNICO is attempting to put on the festival, which Maddalena said is intended to fill the void left by the cancellation of Montville Day. When Montville UNICO learned Montville Day was not being funded this year, he said the organization decided to move forward with the event, which is hosted annually by other UNICO organizations in the country.

"Montville Day drew around 5,000 people so we're hoping for at least the same," Maddalena said.