Little Italy comes alive this weekend. After a year of absence, the Santa Lucia Festival returns to Omaha. “Goosebumps,” said Todd Procopio, chairman of the Santa Lucia festival committee. “It’s so cool to have this arch.” The arch was lit for the first time in two years on Thursday. The Italian-American celebration is back in Little Italy after being absent since 2002. “Not having it last year and then having it this year on 10th Street is really important because that’s where everything started,” said Wanda Chartier. “I think you’re going to have a lot more people from the neighborhood, from the old quarter, just because that’s where it started.” Chartier has been coming to the festival for as long as she can remember. For her, alongside many people present, it’s all about family. “It was in front of our house,” said Wanda Chartier. “Right outside our house. It was the time of year, everyone was getting together during carnival, so it’s family-friendly. It’s true.” Too bad, his son Eric Chartier even has a tattoo commemorating the party, also like Santa Lucia. “It was just something I remembered from my childhood,” said Eric Chartier. “Something I wanted to do to kind of commemorate the festival and the family and everyone who came before.” For Procopio, he is delighted to see the whole Italian Omaha family again. “We’re one big big family,” Procopio said. “It’s just amazing that we can do this for the city of Omaha and for all these people who grew up here.” Sicilian-American actor and filmmaker Michael Cavalieri promotes his story, “Ritornato.” What I think I’m seeing here in Omaha is passion for culture and for roots,” Cavalieri said. The weekend will include food, music and a bit of Italian culture. “It’s how we party. Come be Italian for a few days.”
Little Italy comes alive this weekend. After a year of absence, the Santa Lucia Festival returns to Omaha.
“Goosebumps,” said Todd Procopio, chairman of the Santa Lucia festival committee. “It’s so cool to have this arch.”
The arch was lit for the first time in two years on Thursday. The Italian-American celebration returns to Little Italy after being absent since 2002.
“Not having it last year and then having it this year on 10th Street is really important because that’s where it all started,” Wanda Chartier said. “I think you’re going to have a lot more people from the neighborhood, from the old quarter, just because that’s where it started.”
Chartier has been coming to the festival for as long as she can remember. For her, alongside many people present, it’s all about family.
“Before, it was in front of our house,” said Wanda Chartier. “Right outside our house. It was the time of year, everyone was getting together during carnival, so it’s family. It really is.”
So much so that his son Eric Chartier even has a tattoo commemorating the party, as well as Santa Lucia.
“It was just something I remembered from my childhood,” said Eric Chartier. “Something I wanted to do to commemorate the festival and the family and everyone who came before.”
For Procopio, he is delighted to see the whole Italian Omaha family back together again.
“We are a very big family,” Procopio said. “It’s just amazing that we’re able to do this for the city of Omaha and for all these people who grew up here.”
Sicilian-American actor and filmmaker Michael Cavalieri promotes his story, “Ritornato.”
“The biggest thing I think I see here in Omaha is the passion for the culture and for the roots,” Cavalieri said.
The weekend will include food, music and a bit of Italian culture.
“Just come and enjoy the party,” Procopio said. “That’s how we party. Come be Italian for a few days.”
