Date: Aug 01, 2008

Hofstra Italian Festival Celebrates 16th Year During Homecoming Weekend

September 21, 2008! Featuring Food, Children's Activities and Live Entertainment

HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, HEMPSTEAD, NY ... Hofstra University hosts the 16th Annual Italian Experience on Sunday, September 21, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. outdoors on the South Campus. The Italian Experience, sponsored this year by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, has grown to be a popular Long Island tradition, as well as one of the largest festivals of its kind in the United States, celebrating Italy’s gifts of culture, education and commerce to America. As in the past, the Italian Experience will feature a full itinerary of crafts, live entertainment and food.

Entertainment includes performances by The Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra, the San Remo Duo, traditional folk songs and dance performed by "I Paesani," "Pop-era" featuring members of the Bronx Opera Company, Katie's Puppets, the Italian Fairy, The Magic of Maione, the Italian-American "Poet's and Writer's Piazza," presented by the Association of Italian American Educators (AIAE); and vocal performances sponsored by L'Esperienza Magazine. (**Please note: the entertainment schedule is subject to change).

Theatergoers may also attend a matinee performance of 1776, presented by Hofstra Entertainment at 2 p.m. at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. Tickets are $30; $28 senior citizen (over 65); $15 matriculated non-Hofstra student; and $10 for children under 12 and for members of the Hofstra community (faculty, staff, students) with a current HofstraCard (two-ticket maximum). For tickets and more information on 1776 call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644 or visit www.hofstra.edu/HofstraEntertainment.

Suggested donation to the Italian Experience is $5 per person. The public may call Hofstra’s Festival Hotline at (516) 463-6582 or visit www.hofstra.edu/Festivals for more information. For vendor information call Vivian Passuello at (516) 463-6504.

Please note, this year’s Italian Experience falls during Hofstra’s Homecoming Weekend - spend both Saturday and Sunday at Hofstra University. On Saturday, September 20, the Homecoming Parade begins on the North Campus at 11 a.m., followed by the pregame and football game against the University of Rhode Island at James M. Shuart Stadium at 1 p.m. 4 p.m. is the post-game part at the Alumni Pride Tent adjacent to Shuart Stadium. For more information visist www.hofstra.edu/homecoming or call (516) 463-5665.

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Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.