Published in the August 17, 2018 edition.

WAKEFIELD — Tomorrow afternoon into the early evening, weather permitting, Wakefield celebrates the summer with its annual Festival Italia.

(Organizers were meeting this morning to determine whether to postpone the festivities to Sunday.)

Along closed sections of Main Street and Albion Street, there will be activities for kids, street performers, musicians, dancers, food and drink. Groups looking to raise money for their causes will be set up along the way as well, adding to the color of the 2018 edition of the festival.

The action gets underway around 2 p.m. and will run until 8 p.m. Along the festival route, you can partake of the many vendors, performances, activities, or just meet up with friends and relatives to enjoy this family-oriented day.

There will be something for everyone, according to representatives of the group organizing the event, the Wakefield Community Partnership.

The Boys and Girls Club of Stoneham & Wakefield’s Kids Zone will be located on Albion Stree, offering great children’s entertainment like a bouncy house, mini-golf course, a Sports Zone and art tables.

Roaming entertainment will include Boris the Stilt Walker, the Memory Laners, Alyssa Adario, balloon artists, face painters and a tattoo artist

In addition, you can see various stage performers.

At the Colosseum Stage, Lincoln Street and Richardson Avenue, Betty’s Bounce will perform from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., North Ave Band will play from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the Mack Stevens Duo will entertain the crowd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Pompeii Stage located at Main Street and Yale Avenue will feature DJ Doug Zimon from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and the MJ Trio from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Forum Stage on Albion Street will have musicians from Onset Music perform from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Pistol Pete will rock the crowd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Entertainment is sponsored by East Boston Savings Bank, AT&T and 128 Plumbing & Heating.

Dance performances by local dance studios will take at the Forum Stage at various times from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. featuring WMHS Cheerleaders and Dance Studio of Wakefield. At the Pompeii Stage at various times during the same period, Dance Track Studio and Catch the Funk will showcase their talents.

Other offerings incude:

DUNK TANK
–
Want to see your favorite Wakefield “celebrity” dunked, or do you want to make a splash? Come to the Dunk Tank, sponsored by Wakefield Community Partnership, Wakefield Independence Day Committee and the West Side Social Club to help support the Fourth of July needs in 2019.

LA PIAZZA

WINE & BEER TENT
will be set up in front of The Saving Bank, and open from 2 p.m. to
8 p.m., and offering a large selection of beers and wines. LaPiazza is sponsored by The Savings Bank.

WHEEL OF CHANCE will be set up at Main and Albion streets. Try your luck at winning a prize valued at $10 or more. Tickets are $5.00 for three spins to win one prize.

To keep everyone safe, various streets have to be closed beginning at 11 a.m.

Main Street will be closed from Richardson Avenue to Yale Avenue. Part of Albion Street will be closed to motorists.

As a result, motorists will not be able to use Yale Avenue, Avon Street, the eastern end of Chestnut Street or Richardson Avenue during the Festival Italia. Also, Centre Street will be blocked off, as will Princess Street, Lincoln Street and Smith Street in front of the Bank of America.

You will have access on the south end of the Square at West Water and Water streets, and to the north at Church Street and Salem Street.