The rainy weather managed to hold off until the end of the day and festival organizer Terry Dow said despite the rain showers, the day was a great success.

"We got a little rained out at the end when Jonesy was playing but it was a great night and another very successful year."

Terry Dow told Niagara This Week that the committee is already thinking about how they can improve the festival for next year.

Pat Greco, who attended the festival, said his parents immigrated from Italy to Canada in the early 1900s because of the work that was available here and they had some friends here.

They found work at the Ontario Paper Mill and later started a Pentecostal Church on the corner of Cunningham and Garden streets.

Greco said he has worked on a farm since he was nine years old.

Now at 79 years old, he continues to celebrate his Italian heritage at the Italian festival in Thorold.

"Italians are very proud people and they don't like welfare. I don't know one person on welfare," Greco said.

Kicking off the festival June 20, Club Belvedere was packed during the pasta dinner while local children showed their talent during the Little Miss Italia and Little Mr. Italia pageants.

The Basciano family was named Italian family of the year for 2008.

"We are very honoured," said Melissa Basciano in a moving speech after the announcement was made.

There was a standing ovation as the Basciano family gathered on the stage for photographs and accepted a trophy.

Nick Basciano, who founded Mountainview homes, was a long time philanthropist, businessman and supporter of the city of Thorold. The Thorold Community Activities Group named their new community centre after Nick Bascianio after the family provided the project management services for the building.

Nick Basciano lost his battle to cancer before the building was completed this spring.

The family said he would have been very grateful to receive the award.

"Our family is thrilled to be here we'll continue doing business, continue living here as long as you let us, and we'll continue enjoying it."

There was another individual winner in the Basciano family when five-year-old Julian Basciano-Race was crowned Little Mr. Italia.

Julian answered questions from three judges, stating that his hero is "Daddy" and he would like to become a fireman.

Five-year-old Melissa Coleman was the winner of the Little Miss Italia contest.

She proved that being shy was not an option when she sang her rendition of Ashley Tisdale's "Kiss the girl" during the competition. Runners-up included nine-year-old Bianca Risi and five-year-old Ava Venneri. Melissa will now participate in events across Niagara throughout the year including parades and other festivals.

Other winners of the weekend included Thorold resident Malcolm Cain, who now has bragging rights after winning Da Besta Pasta Sauce competition on Saturday.