Firmly clutching a chalice alternately fueled with water and wine, Rich Quattrone floated effortlessly through Sunday’s Festa Italiana crowd.
And he smiled. Non-stop.
Embracing his role as Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and intoxication, the Italian Club member and Apollo Beach resident, helped lead Sunday’s processional parade through Ybor City.
“I take this role very seriously,” Quattrone quipped with a half-smile. “How can one not enjoy this?”
According to Roman legend, Bacchus stepped in for the Greek god Dionysus and earned the title of party god.
Today, a drunken party orgy is often referred to as a bacchanalia.
Celebrating his 10th year depicting Bacchus, Quattrone posed throughout the day for photos with the estimated crowd of 15,000, all in family-friendly fun.
Sunday’s celebration concluded the 17th annual multi-day celebration honoring Italian culture and heritage.
The official opening party kicked off Thursday at the Italian Club of Tampa with the Wines of Italy, featuring over 70 selections and Carrabba’s Italian Grill cuisine.
Saturday was dedicated to the MASI Bocce Ball Invitational, which yielded 40 teams vying for bragging rights and a $750 prize, awarded to the top two winning teams. Teams dedicated the prize to the charity of their choice.
Garnishing adult beverages or cigars, entrants chided with each other over the court conditions.
Due to scheduling conflicts for their former court location in Centennial Park, bocce ball officials set up on Seventh Avenue, across from the Italian Club for the daylong event.
“Well, I wouldn’t call these conditions ideal,” said Frank Vacanti of Team Vacanti Reality. “Look at all the dips and uneven lanes. You have one lane that is just a slope.”
Team YCDC, representing the Ybor City Development Corporation, won the title, edging out Team Mark Bentley P.A.
When asked how his team compensated for challenging court conditions, Vacanti quipped good-naturedly, “You just have to drink and cheat. There is no science here."
Team Frank Vacanti Reality made it to the semi-finals.
Through out the day, local songbirds competed against one another in the Italian Idol singing competition at Gaspar’s Grotto, while wine enthusiasts competed in the Homemade Vino Competition at Carmine’s on Seventh.
Sunday showcased the cuisine of over 35 Tampa Bay restaurants and catering companies along with singing and dance performances on the event’s main stage.
Italian Idol finalists, the Johnny Charro Dance Band and vocalist Lena Prima were among entertainment favorites.
Prima is the youngest daughter of the legendary “King of Swingers” Louis Prima.
“Just look at the faces of the people here,” comedian Pat Capuzzi said. “Except for that crying baby over there, I’m looking at some pretty happy folks.”
Capuzzi, 74, traveled from his adopted hometown of Tavares to attend the festival.
Recovering from a leg injury, Capuzzi glided through the brick streets on his wheeled walker, waving to anyone that caught his eye.
“I should have decorated it with garlic and other ornaments,” Capuzzi said, referring to his walker. “I’ve been performing through this recovery, and people laugh out loud when I go all Italian on it.”
Italian Club former president Joe Capitano Sr. — who, along with wife Gilda, are a constant force representing and promoting the Italian Club — manned the microphone for the last shift at the raffle table. Grand prize was $5,000 worth of gas from Marathon Petroleum and Radiant Food Stores.
Capitano Sr. is the vice president of both.
“We won’t have the festival’s final figures for a week or two,” Capitano said. “But looking around at the crowds, we consider this a success.”
“Looking into the audience at the main stage, you see a 6-week-old baby alongside a 90- or 100-year-old person. That is success.”
The annual celebration benefits the Italian Club Restoration Fund.