Be a Part of the Largest Fest in the St. Louis Bi-State Area Devoted to All Things Italian

Come and celebrate in Collinsville, Illinois. The Italian Fest is a family-friendly event!

Since 1984, Collinsville IL has been celebrating the Italian culture and heritage that our city was built on. The annual celebration falls on the 3rd weekend of September, located in Uptown Collinsville on Main Street.

Admission & musical entertainment are free. We hope to see you at the Fest!

Pageant Information 

Welcome all girls and boys ages 6months to 18 years old to the Annual Little Miss and Mister Italian Fest Pageant. This year we will have a Miss and Mister Italiano category for ages 18 and up.

The Pageant will be held on Sunday, September 8 at 4pm at Goshen Theatre. This will give our Royalty plenty of time to prep for the Festival Opening Ceremony on Friday September 20 and the parade on Saturday September 21. 

Each pageant participant will receive one entry ticket for their chaperone. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5. Ages 3 & under will be free.

Thank you to our Sponsors: Goshen Theatre and The Guffey Group!

ALL participants will receive a swag bag which will be awarded at the end of the pageant at the crowning.

Pageant Categories:

• To be determined based on registration.

*Grades enrolled as of Fall 2024 *Crowning categories are subject to change depending on registration numbers and ages.*

Pageant Components:
- Bio - Contestants will Read Aloud (no more than one paragraph)
- Question - Fun Fact about Italian Fest
- Theme - Italian Films
- Talent - 1 Minute Time Limit - must have prior approval by Pageant Director

Pageant Restrictions:

• No Fake Eyelashes
• No Heavy Makeup
• No Midriffs
• No Booty Shorts
• No Wardrobe Changes
• Nothing with Fire

*This is not a beauty competition

Parade Information 

Each entry is limited to one motor vehicle. For the 2024 parade, we will limit the parade to the first 50 entries. Cars and theme decorated floats, will be allowed first. If your vehicle is larger than a truck and trailer, please make specific note on the application.

Parade lineup is established according to protocol and public safety concerns.

• Grand Marshal – TBD
• Parade Theme – Italian Films

2024 Parade Rules Regulations and Policies

• Parade application must be received by September 6th, 2024
• Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and Italian Fest Committee adopt and amend the rules 
  and regulations of the Italian Fest.
• The parade is limited to the first 50 entries; Cars and decorated float entries will be allowed first in the parade. PLEASE NOTE THESE ENTRIES will be allowed in the 
  parade first.
• Each entry is limited to ONE (1) motor vehicle.
• All participants in the 2024 Italian Fest must abide by all rules, regulations, and decisions set forth by The Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and Italian Fest Committee.
• Floats will be judged on appropriateness to the theme, emotional appeal, originality, and 
  overall effect.
     Float Prizes: 1st Place $200.00, 2nd Place $100.00, 3rd Place $50.00
• Decorated vehicles will be judged on appropriateness to the theme, emotional appeal, originality, and overall effect.
  Decorated vehicle prize – 1st Place Recognition
• Candy may be handed out with walkers alongside your unit.
• No refunds for entry fees will be given for units ejected from the parade.
• The Parade will start at Hesperia and Main Street. It will go up Main Street to Seminary. It will turn left on Seminary and then left on Clay Street. The Parade will end at Clay and 
  Combs. The parade will not go through the Fest grounds.
• Parade lineup begins at 2:30 pm. You will receive a map and line up number in the mail.
• If your application is not accepted for the parade your entry fee will be returned to you.
• Once you or your organization is accepted into the 2024 parade there are no refunds of entry fees.
• The parade begins promptly at 4:00 pm September 21, 2024.
• Once you are on the parade route keep your unit moving. Do not stop your unit during the parade unless you are instructed to do so by the parade committee, parade marshals or the Collinsville police.
• All drivers of motorized vehicles must be 21 years of age or older, must have a valid driver’s license, and must have, in their possession the day of the parade, proof of insurance 
  for the vehicle they are driving.
  

2nd Annual Pizza Eating Contest 

Maximum Number of Contestants: 15 

Required Age: 18+

Eating Contest Rules:

• Six minutes to eat as many pieces of cheese pizza as one can.
• A whole piece must be eaten before the next piece, this includes the crust.
• No stacking. Must eat one piece at a time.
• Any piece not finished by the allotted time shall not count. No half slices.
• Vomiting is an automatic DQ.
• If a contestant finishes they shall throw their hands in the air to signal they are done.
• In the event of a tie, we will have an eat off. (first to finish wins! food type TBD)
• Winner receives a t-shirt and picture with the championship belt.  They will have their name and year engraved on the belt as well.