Latrobe Italian Festival returns for 2nd year, catalyzes growth for local community

Michael Ciotti says he’s been going to Italian festivals his whole life

Since he was born in the city, it naturally made sense to create the Latrobe Italian Festival soon after opening his local business.

The festival returns to Thompson Street this weekend for the second year, honoring the city’s First Ward — a section of Latrobe known locally for its deep Italian roots.

Ciotti, 39, owner of 512 Coffee and Ice Cream, returned to Latrobe in 2014 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh and living in Hawaii, where he was a teacher and wrestling coach.

He had always talked about investing in a combined Airbnb and storefront with his dad, and they looked around for a place for many years, he said, until finding the site of 512 in Latrobe.

Ciotti said the house, built in 1874, was “almost dilapidated,” but it had good bones. And now, 512 Coffee and Ice Cream and the above Airbnb celebrated two years of business in June.

“It’s been cool. We meet so many people in the shop,” Ciotti said. “I think we’re up over like 30-some countries.”

Similar to his business, the Italian festival has become a catalyst for bringing in people from all over into Latrobe, which Ciotti said helps the city.

He said he’s expecting about triple the number of people this year compared with last year’s launch of the festival — despite the similar weather of scattered showers.

This year, Ciotti said he and others who helped organize the event decided to add a kickoff parade to accompany the food and craft vendors, as well as live music.

Though some people who were supposed to appear in the parade canceled Saturday morning because of rainy weather, he said there still was a good turnout.

Ciotti’s favorite part of the festival is meeting everyone who attends.

“I should have like a recorder on me for the amount of oral histories that I hear,” Ciotti said. “That makes it.”

Like in his work at 512, he said, he tries to ask people questions about themselves to establish connections with those in the community he doesn’t know.

“Meeting all the local folks, meeting all the travelers — it definitely brings a joy to you,” Ciotti said. “I can see why people (work in the service industry) their whole life.”

Haleigh Fellers started working at 512 in March because she and her mom loved coming to the shop.

Though she’s not Italian, Fellers, 22, of Latrobe helped at the festival as part of her job, and she enjoyed herself.

“It’s not my heritage, but it’s cool to see people who are Italian celebrating their heritage and being able to be a part of that,” Fellers said.

This year was Terry Lucarelli’s first time at the Latrobe Italian Festival, and he said he came for the food.

He said he’s a member of Emilia Sammartino Lodge in Crabtree, a member of the Order Sons Of Italy in America, and welcomes anyone who is from Italy or who is interested in Italian heritage.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m here for some good food — wherever that might be,” said Lucarelli, 64, of Hempfield.

He said he likes to see what’s going on in the local Italian community, as his father is Italian and his mother is German and Irish.

“We’ve held onto our heritage. It’s the food, it’s the gathering of the family,” Lucarelli said.

He said he plans to return to the festival to support it, and he hopes it gains exposure and grows.

Ciotti agreed, saying he hopes to expand “a little bit more” to get as many people as possible to attend.

“We’re proud to be Italian, proud to be American,” Ciotti said. “I like throwing parties.”