The desert was painted green, white and red over the weekend for the third annual Italian Festival benefiting Desert Arc, an event that drew about 6,000 residents to Whitewater Park over two days.

Families basked in the sun as they feasted on sausage sandwiches, authentic pasta, cannolis and Peroni beer. A large white banner reading, "Amici Benvenuti," or "Friends, welcome," greeted those who entered the park.

"We were looking for something different to do," said David Davenport of Palm Desert as he was leaving the park on Sunday afternoon. "It was very good. There was a lot of variety." Davenport's favorite part of the festival was the food. He feasted on tortellini and Caesar salad, topped off by some gelato.

Though in past years the festival was hosted in just one day, this year it was expanded over two days due to popular demand.

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Source: http://www.citizen-times.com