Italian Festival
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Event Details
Benvenuti alla Festa Italiana!
Il Festival Italiano ha luogo alla fiera della contea di Pittsburg (centro dell'esposizione regionale e provinciale) sotto gli auspici della fondazione "Festa Italiana" di McAlester, Inc. - Fondazione caritatevole, senza scopo di guadagno.
La festa Italiana si celebra ogni anno nel fine settimana (sabato e domenica), in occasione della giornata della rimembranza. Si celebra anche l'arrivo delle migliaia di italiani che all'alba del ventesimo secolo stabilirono la loro residenza nella parte sud-orientale del territorio dell' Oklahoma, per lavorare nelle miniere di carbone.
The Italian Festival of McAlester, Oklahoma (USA), has been one of the finest annual events in Oklahoma since its inception in 1971. The Festival draws thousands of visitors to the fairgrounds of the Pittsburg County Expo Center for the two-day event. Join the many thousands who enjoy delicious Italian Food in the Food Tent and the Sandwich Tent, a variety of other foods from dozens of concessionaires, live entertainment for all ages, shopping among the hundreds of vendors, craft show booths and fine arts booths.
Don't miss the most exciting weekend of Spring in the rolling hills of beautiful southeastern Oklahoma - only a pleasant May drive from Tulsa or Oklahoma City in Oklahoma, Fort Smith or Little Rock in Arkansas, Dallas or Fort Worth in Texas! Come join the fun as we celebrate and honour the living heritage of the many Italian families of the McAlester area in the heartland of America - you'll be glad you did!
The Festival takes place each year at the county fairgrounds - the Pittsburg County Regional Exposition Center, which is located on the south side of U.S. 270 highway, about 4 miles west of McAlester. The entire complex of buildings and structures (and tents during the Festival!) is easily visible from the highway. The McAlester exit from Indian Nations Turnpike is less than a mile west of the fairgrounds.
History of the Italian Festival
The first Italian Festival in McAlester was held in 1971. It was the idea of Krebs restaurant owner Bill Prichard. He and his family have operated the "world famous" Pete's Place in Krebs for nearly 60 years. The festival was to honor and prolong the Italian heritage in this area of Oklahoma.
The festival has grown into one of the largest festivals in the state, and features one of the largest arts and crafts shows in Oklahoma, as well as the delicious and freshly-prepared Italian food and tributes to Italian heritage. All the labor for the festival comes from volunteers. During the two-day event some twenty thousand people visit and enjoy, or take part in the festivities, which makes the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers all worthwhile.
Many Italians came from Italy, through the Ellis Island point of entry in New York, to find honest, but hard, work in the often dangerous) coal mines. As the new immigrants achieved and overcame the obstacles in their new country, some saved up enough money to bring family from Italy to join them in Oklahoma. At that time McAlester was in Indian Territory, in the part controlled by the Choctaw Nation (one of the American Indian tribes commonly referred to as "The Five Civilized Tribes") - Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were joined to create the brand-new State of Oklahoma in 1907. The Italian community in the McAlester area flourished and thrived and grew over the years. As the mines began to play out, the Italians in this area went into other trades and businesses, including the establishment of some of the finest Italian restaurants in America. Other nationalities were also represented in the immigrant tide that built up this region - notably Greeks and Russians in significant numbers. However, it was the Italians who marked this part of Oklahoma most indelibly and wonderfully - and that is the glorious heritage which we celebrate with The Italian Festival of McAlester.
Italian Festival
Phone : 918-423-5221 (Always call and confirm events.)
Fax : 918-423-8824
Web: www.themcalesteritalianfestival.org
Festivals
Robber's Cave State Park Nature Centers
Housed in a natural stone bathhouse built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the nature center offers living displays of native animals and a schedule of activities. Whether it's listening to legends of Native Americans in the area, taking foliage walks or building a birdhouse, there is always plenty going on. The park's naturalist is an excellent guide for haunted cave tours, interpretive hikes and many other fun-filled programs. Also located in the building is the gift shop which is well-supplied with books and pamphlets on area history and legends, nature guides, tee-shirts and trinkets.
Robber's Cave State Park Hiking Trails
Trails which lead through the short-leaf pine forest appeal to birders and other nature lovers. Robbers Cave is home to cardinals, chickadees, titmice, bluejays and other Oklahoma songbirds. Careful observers may catch a glimpse of the park's most unusual avian inhabitant, the pileated woodpecker. Larger birds include wild turkeys, black and turkey vultures, and occasionally, bad eagles. White-tailed deer also inhabit the woods, along with squirrels, raccoons, opossum, foxes, and coyotes. More illusive species like the bobcat and black bear are rarely seen, but live as secretly as the old outlaws.There are many ideal rock climbing/rappelling areas, and hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding trails. The adjoining wildlife area contains over 25 miles of trails (many are closed during hunting seasons).
Robber's Cave State Park Equestrian
For those who want to explore on horseback, Robbers Cave State Park has nearly 50 miles of marked trails. The equestrian campground offers riders a place to camp and tie their horses after a day of trailriding. Starr D Outfitters and Riding Stables, located in the park, has horses for rent and organizes outings including trail rides, chuckwagon rides, and overnight camping trips.Also contact D bar T stables in Robbers Cave State Park at 918-465-5770 at www.DbarTstables.net
Robber's Cave State Park Campgrounds
Campers have many facilities from which to choose. There are five campgrounds with 122 sites ranging from modern with pull-throughs to unimproved. Riders can take advantage of the special accommodation in the equestrian campground. For those who really like to rough it, there are three primitive camps. For large groups, there are two groups camps housing 160 and 250 people respectively. The group camps are open from April 1 until October 31. Each camp has a fully-equipped central kitchen and comfort stations with shower facilities. Reservations for modern and semi-modern RV spaces and group camps can be made up to one year in advance.In peak season campsites range from $18 for a preferred location RV site w/all hookups, to $13 to $16 for a site w/water & electric hookups, to $7 for tent or primitive campsites. $5 non-refundable reservation fee.
The Group Camp Facilities (1 accommodates 250, the other 160) are $225 per day for up to 50 occupants, additional persons are $3 each per day. Call about rental rates for canoes & paddle boats.
Swimming pool fee runs from $1 to $5. Amphitheatre is $50 per day--lights, sound extra.
Robber's Cave State Park Cabins
Tucked into the woods at Robber's Cave State Park are 26 rustic cabins. 19 are designed to sleep four people. Eight of these cabins are duplexes (two connecting), making them handy for larger families or groups. There are seven cabins with two bedrooms which will accommodate six apiece. Each has a fully furnished kitchen and woodburning fireplace and air conditioning. Alarm clock, coffee maker, cooking utensils, and linens are provided.The are no telephones and no televisions in the cabins. This is truly an escape to serenity!
Cabins are $53 - $68 for a one bedroom, or $78 - $88 for a two bedroom. One-bedroom honeymoon cabins are $88/night.
Cabin #5 is handicapped accessible, but cabin office is not.
Robber's Cave State Park Resorts
Brand-new Belle Starr Lodge blends into its hilltop setting with its green-stained wood construction and tree trunk pillars. Every room commands an impressive view of Coon Creek Lake and the valley below. Small patios with furniture make this an ideal spot to enjoy morning coffee. Each of the lodges's twenty attractively-decorated rooms has a coffee maker and television. Two of the rooms are designed for handicapped accessibility. Butterfield Pine, a common room, is ideal for meetings and family reunions.
Robber's Cave State Park Natural Attractions
Once the home of prehistoric tribal groups, the area later became the hunting ground for Caddo and Osage Indians who then traded with the French fur trappers that began making their way through the area. Outlaw legends began to grow around a robbers' cave during the Civil War when deserters from both Union and Confederate forces used it. After the war, guerilla bands and gangs of robbers made it a rendezvous between raids. Down nearby Fourche Maline river ran what came to be known as "Robbers' Trail" - associated with such names as the Youngers, Frank and Jesse James, and Belle Starr (who had a cabin 20 miles to the north). The cave's secluded and rugged location and general proximity to the Texas and California Roads and the old Butterfield Stage Line, made it an ideal outlaw hideout for many years. The cave itself lies hidden in a formation of sandstone hills and cliffs from 300 to 1500 feet in height. A fresh water spring flowed through it, providing water, and a natural stone corral at the base of the cliff held the outlaws' horses. A hidden exit allowed them to escape unnoticed.
Robber's Cave State Park Fishing
Fishing is popular in the park's three lakes - Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, and Coon Creek Lake. Catches include largemouth bass, black and white crappie, perch, bluegill, sunfish, and catfish. The record fish is a 12 pound, five ounce largemouth bass caught in 1997. From November 1 until March 15, trout fishermen head for Fourche Mailine Creek to vie for rainbows. Oklahoma fishing licenses and trout stamps are available at the park grocery. Small boats are allowed on all three lakes, with boat ramps on Lake Carlton and Lake Wayne Wallace. During the summer season, canoes for fishing or boating, yakanoes and paddleboats can be rented.
Robber's Cave State Park Rappelling
There are many ideal rock climbing/rappelling areas at Robber's Cave State Park along with hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding trails. The adjoining wildlife area contains over 25 miles of trails (many are closed during hunting seasons).