Benld Italian American Days holds 71st annual celebration

The 2025 Spaghetti Stand Dream Team. Photo provided.

By JACKSON WILSON
Coal Country Times Reporter

To kick off the summer season, the Benld Italian-American club held a heritage tradition that only a small town with a large heartbeat could provide.

For the 71st year, the community of Benld held its famous Italian-American Days celebration.
The Benld City Park was active the entire Memorial Day weekend of May 23 through May 25 with a large assortment of activities and attractions.

The park opened the evening of May 23 with music courtesy of Flip The Frog.

Festivities began early with the Italian Club Car Show the morning of May 24, which was once again a major success in its third year. Special recognition was given for the Italian Club Award (1964 Cadillac El Dorado), Mayor’s Choice Award (1968 Camaro RS/SS), Best of Show to 1985 (1968 Chevy C20 Camper Special) and Best of Show to present (50-year limited edition 2015 Mustang). Borderline took the stage for the next concert during the evening.

In addition to a musical triple feature of B&B Strings, Syner-Gee and the Big Shake Daddies, guests enjoyed free meals of the festival’s signature Italian-American spaghetti and participated in the traditional bocce ball tournament May 25.

Other attractions of this year’s Italian-American Days included carnival rides from Conner Family Amusement, BINGO and many other Italian specialties like homemade salami/meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda and cannoli.