Butler's streets were packed Friday evening for Butler Italian Days. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

The Butler streets were filled with Italian red, green and white Friday evening, Aug. 28, with the country’s colors on shirts, hats and flags in every corner.

Returning for a second year, both Italians and non-Italians turned out for the celebration.

The plates were filled with pizzas, meatballs, hot sausages, lasagna, stuffed eggplant, deep-fried mushrooms, gnocchi, arancini, braciole, red wine and more made by vendors lining Main Street.

While old men taught children how to play bocce, Italian soccer jerseys were spotted in the mix of the colors.

According to the Heinz History Center, which had a table set up to show off historical ties to Italy, Butler and Western Pennsylvania have residents who are descended from all parts of Italy.

“It’s not just one place. I’ve heard a lot of people from here coming from Sicily, from Pugila, Campania, from Abruzzo. Those are regions where traditionally we’ve seen a lot of migration into Pennsylvania,” said Melissa E. Marinaro, of the Heinz History Center. “The phenomenon that happens is called chain migration, where one person comes and their friends and neighbors, others from their town come from.”

T-shirts and clothing sold at Italian Days Friday evening celebrated Italy's red, white and green. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

The Heinz History Center at a presence at Italian Days to show off historical ties between the region and Italy to residents. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

Workers at Bellissimo Catering, a locally owned business, prepared a menu that included items like lasagna, gnocchi, braciole and more. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle

A map highlighted by the Heinz History Center showed where in Italy residents throughout the region can trace their roots from. Zach Zimmerman/Butler Eagle