Members of the Downriver Italian American Club are anxiously awaiting the return of their annual St. Joseph’s Festival and they’re inviting the public to join them. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. March 12 at the Wyandotte Copeland Center, 2306 Fourth St. The admission fee is $15 and can be paid at the door. All donated funds will be matched by the Downriver Italian American Club and given to children’s charities.

The festival is in honor of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the poor. Festivities include a St. Joseph program, blessing of the food and a meal consisting of thick minestrone soup, egg noodles and beans, along with oranges, bread and Italian cookies. According to Leslie Lupo, one of the event’s organizers, the soup recipe is more than 200 years old and has been handed down through generations of Italians.