Festival-goers young and old enjoyed the opportunity to be Italian for a day Sunday at the Italian Festival on the Rondout Waterfront. "This is where everyone pretends to be Italian for a day," Frank Casciano, the festival's entertainment coordinator said. Italian blood or not, it's a time to celebrate life and food, he added. 

Casciano said he expected upwards of 10,000 people to attend before the festival wrapped up Sunday evening. Anna Brett, the festival's co-chair, said she was happy with how hard this year's vendor chairperson worked to bring in vendors and she credited that effort with bringing crowds to the festival.