By JEFF STITT
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International Village, a three-day festival dedicated to the culture and traditions of the many ethnicities contributing to the history of McKeesport, kicks off today.
To get the city into a festive feeling, the traditional Village for Kids was held Monday in Renziehausen Park.
Sen. Jim Brewster, a McKeesport native, has been attending and helping with International Village for decades.
For the last 12 years, he has sponsored the precursor event to the three-day festival of heritage, pride and tradition that’s become known as one of the area’s largest and most popular ethnic food, music and dance festivals.
International Village will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. tonight, Wednesday and Thursday.
The senator gives all the credit for Village for Kids to his staff, with a heavy portion of that going to Alison Piccolino, director of external affairs for his Senatorial district.
Piccolino — who has coordinated and planned the event since its inception — said she got goosebumps Monday looking around the field in front of the McKeesport Lions Club Bandshell and seeing a lively group of patrons and organizations having a fun time.
That’s in part because Piccolino and her entire staff at the McKeesport office on Lysle Boulevard are big advocates of community involvement.
It’s also because the Village for Kids got to make its triumphant return this year after having to take a year off amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The crowd appeared to be a bit smaller than in past years, but not by much.
Some of the volunteers at the event described the crowd as “steady,” and said they were happy with the turnout.
While they weren’t required to, some wore masks. The Allegheny County Health Department was on hand to offer walk-up COVID-19 vaccine appointments for teens and adults, and hand sanitizer was available at several places throughout the Village for Kids. Some of the organizations participating in a community information fair at the event used disinfectant to clean their booths between guests.
Piccolino said she was happy with the turnout.
“Last year, we did not have this event because of the pandemic, but the vendors, the organizations, the churches and businesses all came out stronger than ever,” she said. “The smiles on people’s faces — not only in attendance but working the booths — it all just makes it more special, really.
“… This is just a really fun, positive day.”
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