They all had missed the festival during its COVID-19-induced hiatus in 2020 and wanted to get back to an event that has been a Wheeling tradition since 1983.
Born in Wheeling and now living in Colerain, Ohio, Benedetto said this weekend is an opportunity for people to link up with friends they might not see at any other time of the year.
At the festival site, longtime favorites like the Sons of Italy sausage sandwiches and TJ’s Jovanni sandwich were out for sale.
“All this great food, everything smells wonderful,” Jay Salva said.
Students from Steubenville Central Catholic and John Marshall high schools lent a hand, along with the Italian-American Culture Club from Steubenville.
“If it weren’t for these people, we really wouldn’t have a festival,” Wehrheim said.
That work was appreciated by people like Robert Altmeyer, who had plenty of family with him as he walked through the festival.
Preparing for this year’s festival was no easy task, Fabbro said.