The 2022 Italian American Festival will return this weekend to Watkins Glen, Aug. 5 and 6. With expectations from festival organizers that thousands of visitors will come to the village, Festival President and Deputy Mayor Louis Perazzini is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather. "Good weather, that is all we need, because the people will come," Perazzini said.

Perazzini explained that due to a needed scheduling change to accommodate this season's national event at the race track, there will not be carnival rides this year as the vendor could not reschedule. Inflatable rides will be available, however, at the festival grounds.