Butler Italian Days ties community members to heritage
Pride for individuals’ heritage was on display as Italian flags and signs reading “Viva Italia” Friday evening, Aug. 22, as the first part of Butler Italian Days took over city streets.
While the event offered a wealth of food and retail vendors, alongside live music, the real takeaway for many eventgoers was the chance to reflect on their roots.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the start time for Friday’s festivities, attendance quickly climbed. Some came adorned in clothing featuring the flag of Italy or the colors green, white and red.
As attendance rose, lines formed at most of the food vendors in Diamond Park, but the longest could be seen in front of Italian food spots. Outside of the park, other vendors lined the sides of Main Street to sell beverages, clothing and even pickles.
One of Friday’s vendors, John Kaczor, was rolling pasta dough just as the first customers of the night began to approach. He is the owner of Kaczor Ravioli Company, which serves handmade ravioli, pierogi and gnocchi.
Kaczor said he first had the idea to sell pasta at age 19, but did not follow his dream until his late 40s.
“I told a coworker about it and he told me it was the dumbest idea he’s heard. Soon after, I bought the ravioli machine,” he said with a chuckle.
Kaczor, a native of Armstrong County, said that over the 13 years since, he’s expanded his business to supply his products in 17 area grocery stores. He said he previously attended Butler festivals, from Foodie Fridays to the old Italian Festival.
Kaczor said, while pierogi and ravioli obviously come from two different cultures, he wanted to represent both sides of his family’s heritage.
“My mom was full-blooded Italian and my dad was full-blooded Polish,” Kaczor said. “My mom made homemade ravioli for us and I loved them.”
On Main Street, Sapore di Italia, which translates to “Taste of Italy” in English, sold baked goods made by Alicia and Christopher Antitomas.
“My family and his family are immigrants from Italy. Baking and cooking is very prevalent in Italian culture. I initially wanted to go to culinary school, but there was a change of plans. Baking was always true to my heart,” Alicia Antitomas said.
Years ago, she decided to pursue her passions while maintaining her full-time job. One of her inspirations to start baking was to continue to celebrate and share her family’s heritage.
“I think it’s important to celebrate all heritages, but the Italian culture over the years has somewhat dwindled. There’s still a lot of communities in the Pittsburgh area that are known as Little Italy or Italian communities. It’s nice for everyone to come together and celebrate that culture,” Alicia Antitomas said.
While some of the items served were common Italian delicacies, the two intentionally offer some more obscure treats, such as lemon genovesi and amaretti cookies.
“These are some of the ones you probably won’t find in your local bakeries around here,” Alicia Antitomas said. “I think it’s just so important to share those with the public and get them to learn new things and enjoy new things.”
Butler Italian Days will run from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.
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Elle Kriley fills an order of cookies for a patron at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Cannoli from Bellisimo Catering was a popular item at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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The crowd enjoys the music and dancing at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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The sign of items available from Bellisimo Catering at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Melissa Marinaro, left, from Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh and Mark O'Connor, english professor from Slippery Rock University, have a table for The Butler American Oral History at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Left to right, Clayton, Adam, Andrew and Lindsay Craig enjoy Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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People peruse vendors on Butler’s Main Street during Butler Italian Days on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Left to right, Kristen Miklavic, Madelyn Miklavic, Elle Kriley and Candace McClure-Kriley serve cookies for Butler Catholic School at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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Donna Joan from Bellisimo Catering prepares a meatball sub at Butler Italian Days in Butler on Friday, Aug. 22. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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John Kaczor of Kaczor Ravioli Company cooks ravioli and gnocchi on Friday, Aug. 22, at Butler Italian Days in Butler. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
