Annual Italian Tradition in Beaver County Features Food, Faith, & Fun for Everyone
The San Rocco Cultural Committee (SRCC) has announced that its 99th annual San Rocco Festa® — the only officially recognized San Rocco Festa in the region — will take place from Friday, August 9 through Sunday, August 11 at the field adjacent to the Beaver Valley Auto Mall in Monaca, PA.
Uniting the community in faith and love, the San Rocco Festa is a multi-day celebration rich in Italian culture and tradition that commemorates the life of San Rocco, a 14th century patron saint of Patrica, Italy, who cared for plague victims and was said to have performed many miraculous cures. Featuring century-old customs, great food, and family-friendly entertainment, the festival also pays homage to the brave Italian immigrants from Patrica who brought the festival with them to Aliquippa while attempting to build better lives for their families in America. The Library of Congress has recognized the SRCC event as a “Local Legacy” and one of the longest continuous running Italian celebrations in Western PA.
An extension of the 1925 founding committee, the SRCC has acted as faithful stewards of the San Rocco Festa for nearly a century, keeping the tradition of its forebears alive while passing it on to future generations. Working in cooperation with numerous Italian clubs and organizations as well as other partners and community leaders, SRCC organizes, runs, and owns the intellectual property for the Festa, having acquired the registered federal trademark in 2023.
Apart from its historic legacy, the San Rocco Festa has long been an instrument for establishing and growing relationships in the community and beyond, extending all the way to Italy. It continues to maintain close ties to its roots, fostering connections and cultural exchange between the Aliquippa and Patrica communities. For example, the San Rocco Festa Band performed in Italy to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Patrica’s own Licinio Refice Band, who, in turn, performed at the 90th annual San Rocco Festa in 2015, bringing with them many friends and family who were visiting the U.S. for the first time.
“Every year, we honor San Rocco and our Italian heritage just as our ancestors did nearly 100 years ago in Aliquippa, but the San Rocco Festa is much more than a yearly summer celebration,” said Henry Bufalini, an SRCC volunteer for over 60 years. “It’s really about bringing people together and building relationships, not just in August but all year-round. Though it originated in our Italian-American community, we wish to share that spirit of the Festa throughout the region, spreading love and togetherness with people of all generations and backgrounds.”
The exciting weekend blends Old World heritage with modern traditions and features commemorative events and entertainment for everyone, including a salute to military and first responders, children’s activities, food and vendor booths, the traditional Baby Doll Dance, the San Rocco Festa Band playing Italian favorites, local cover bands, and fireworks!
While most of the festivities will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings at the Main Festa Grounds in Center Township, the celebration also includes the San Rocco Mass on Sunday morning at St. Titus Church (Mary, Queen of Saints Parish) in Aliquippa with the San Rocco Procession to follow from Polk Street to Main Street.
“It’s always a great atmosphere, filled with music, laughter, and camaraderie of young and old alike,” said SRCC Vice President Laura Logan. “The San Rocco Cultural Committee is proud to be charged with keeping this tradition and all its pageantry alive for years to come. By treating everyone with love and respect, we hope to continue strengthening and uniting the community through the San Rocco Festa.”
Over the years, the SRCC has successfully added charitable works to its efforts, which have included donations to dozens of worthy recipients, including a child in need of a transplant, COVID-19 vaccine research, K-9 of Aliquippa, Alzheimer’s Disease Alliance, Beaver County Humane Society, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, The Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and St. Titus Roman Catholic Church.
If you wish to volunteer your time or donate to this annual community-building event, reach out to the SRCC through https://www.sanrocco.org/contact. Please make sure the funds go to the San Rocco Cultural Committee, so we can keep the Festa alive for another 100 years and beyond.