Memories were made at Italian Fest
Italian Fest is the largest and most cherished festival in Downtown Iron Mountain and during my time with the DDA, it was also the biggest event I had the honor to coordinate. For three unforgettable years, I guided Italian Fest through sunshine and rain, early mornings and late-night cleanups, and made more community connection than I could ever imagine.
This event carries a strong legacy in our community. It means something, especially to the families who’ve lived here for generations and to those who travel back each year just to be part of it. And trust me, we know, you do NOT change the weekend of Italian Fest. People plan their vacations around it. It’s tradition.
From the beginning, I knew how important it was to preserve the parts of the festival that mattered most, while introducing new ideas that respected its roots. My goal was always to listen first and lead with intention.
Downtown Iron Mountain Italian Fest Promo Video with Mindy Meyers, Kenzie Williamsen, and Mountain Media House
Each year brought its own energy, but 2022 set the tone. That year, I partnered with Mindy Meyers and Mountain Media House to produce a video that captured the true essence of Italian Fest. Grape Stomp, Italian Dinner Toss, laughter echoing downtown, and that vibrant, high-spirited energy we knew we could grow.
It also laid the foundation for future traditions. We were building something that we wanted to evolve with the community.
With the most volunteers, the longest hours, and the most coordination required of any event, Italian Fest quickly became one of my favorites (though I’ll probably say that about every single one). Each event brings its own unique magic. But Italian Fest? It’s wine, music, and family, all coming together in the heart of downtown.
Between Italian Fest 2022 and 2023, I coordinated 11 more events. You learn fast when you’re energized and running full speed and by 2023. I felt it.
Daily News Article, Italian Fest 2023, Downtown Iron Mountain
2023 felt like a turning point. It was the first time I ran Italian Fest without Mindy by my side, as she had gone on to soon become the Executive Director of the Dickinson County Economic Development Alliance (a role that fits her so well).
Italian Fest 2023 showed me I could make confident quick decisions and still smile through it, because event day is the best day. Its the day we waited all year for. I soaked it all in, the music, the food, the crowd, and I immediately started planning how we could expand 2024.
My final year at the DDA brought my final Italian Fest, and I knew I wanted it to be unforgettable.
We brought in our strongest local music lineup to date, and by far the biggest crowd I’ve seen downtown. Attendance rose hour by hour just as we expected from tuning into the community's responses.
Daily News Article, Italian Fest 2024
I added a family-friendly outdoor movie, something new for the kids that let parents enjoy the night while keeping their little ones in view. And what could be more perfect than watching Cars 2 (with its Italian race cars!) at Italian Fest?
We also introduced NA drink options, because this event is for everyone. Parents could relax, kids had their movie magic, and the atmosphere was as welcoming as ever. We had so many more ideas in the works including a Teen Zone for future years, and it felt like the event was just starting to hit its full stride.
In the end, Italian Fest 2024 became everything we imagined it could be and theres still room left to grow.
From vendor coordination and sponsorships to logistics scheduling, and promotion, I managed every layer of this event. And with just a few intentional touches, we saw growth in every direction. Italian Fest required the most detail, the deepest listening, and the strongest community engagement. For all those reasons, it became one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on.
