[Archived] City of Alexandria Schedules First Annual San Gennaro Festival For September 2007

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	September 18, 2006 PIO# 211-06/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA SCHEDULES
FIRST ANNUAL SAN GENNARO FESTIVAL FOR SEPTEMBER 2007
Sponsorship Opportunities Available

The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce that the first annual San Gennaro Festival of Alexandria will take place at Ben Brenman Park in September of 2007. Italian culture will be celebrated with food, drink, entertainment, educational programs and cooking contests, as well as a bocce tournament.

“Alexandria is very fortunate to be able to host its first annual San Gennaro Festival,” said Mayor William D. Euille. “Italian culture and Italian cooking are very popular in Alexandria, as they are throughout America,” said Mayor Euille. “This event is destined to become one of the City’s most popular cultural events.” The Festival is cosponsored by the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the San Gennaro Foundation of Virginia, a charitable organization.

The day-long event will feature nationally known entertainment, including crooner Frank Stallone, who will be accompanied by a twenty-piece orchestra. Many area restaurants will be offering true Italian tastes, and a celebrity cooking challenge is planned. Local and national commercial sponsors will underwrite festival operations. For sponsorship information, please call Carmen Micciche at 703-509-5800.

The San Gennaro Festival of Alexandria is modeled on similar festivals held in major metropolitan areas. Typically occurring in September, the event honors the feast day of Saint Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, and honors the rich culture of Italy. “Italian Americans from throughout Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region are very happy to have this opportunity to celebrate and share our culture in historic Alexandria as we also help to fund charitable activities in the community,” said Jay DeCianno, president of the San Gennaro Foundation of Virginia.

For more information on the San Gennaro Festival of Alexandria, visit www.sgfva.org, call Myers Public Relations at 703-476-9377 or call the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703-838-4343.

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