SYRACUSE, NY - Sunny skies and warm late summer temperatures greeted hungry crowds as the 27th annual Festa Italiana kicked off Friday afternoon across from Syracuse’s City Hall.

By noon, lines at many of the vendors were already ten to a dozen people deep.

One of the most popular places early was Biscotti Café, where folks gazed at the display cases filled with Italian desserts. Cold gelato was a perfect choice on this sunny afternoon.

“I could already smell the sauce and cheese when I woke up,” Biscotti’s Debbie Camire said. “It is a great event. People having their lunch and socializing, listening to the music. It is the last big outdoor downtown summer event.”

“It gets bigger every year,” said event president Ginnie Lostumbo. “Everyone is Italian this weekend, no matter their nat

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