That's amore

West suburban residents are officially innamorati with all things Italian.

More than 20,000 people are expected to show up in Addison today through Sunday for bocce ball, meatballs, Sinatra tributes and more during Chicago's West suburban Festa Italiana.

Now in its third year, the fest started after suburbanites pleaded for Chicago's Italian fests to come closer to home.

Ron Onesti, President of the Onesti Entertainment Corporation, said he organized the first Addison fest on a whim in three weeks, and it was an instant success.

"It started as a result of a clamor from the community," Onesti said. "It was tremendous and people just loved it."

The Addison festival is now bigger than Chicago's Festa Pasta Vino, also run by Onesti. And this year it will grow even more, thanks to new features that include shows by The Zoppe Italian Circus, Italian singer Patrizio Buanne and a nightly Venetian carnival.

Each night also will feature several musical performances that celebrate Italian or Italian-American music and food vendors from local restaurants serving Italian dishes.

Other events include comedy acts, an Italian breakfast Sunday with a Catholic Mass and hot air balloon rides for $5 Sunday at the ReMax booth. Proceeds from the balloon rides will benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

"This year we really stepped it up," Onesti said.

Even though the fest celebrates Italian culture, organizers say its true goal is to re-create the feel of old Chicago neighborhoods -- no matter what the ethnicity.

"We want to create a safe, clean environment that represents the old neighborhood ways of families getting together and breaking bread, and singing like in the old piazzas of Italy."

Festival parking will be available behind the Marcus Theaters off Lake Street, as well as in the Office Depot and Wal-Mart parking lots on Route 53. Transportation for senior citizens and disabled visitors will be available from the latter lots.

Festa Italiana

The festival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Park, 1776 W. Centennial Place, Addison. Includes The Zoppe Family Circus, food, the Dean Martini Bar, a nightly Venetian carnival, music and bocce ball. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and free for ages 12 and younger. Circus admission is an additional $7 for adults and $4 for children. Packages are available. Parking is free. Visit www.oshows.com.

TODAY

5 p.m. Johnny Maggio's "One Moment in Time"

6:30 p.m. John Truncali and His Many Voices

7 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

8 p.m. Aaron Caruso's "NY Tribute to Mario Lanza"

9:30 p.m. Carnevale

9:45 p.m. PBS star and Italian vocalist Patrizio Buanne

FRIDAY

5 p.m. Vince Amore

6:15 p.m. Johnny Maggio

7 p.m. Joyce Garro "One of Dean Martin's Gold Diggers"

7:30 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

8:15 p.m. Bobby Valli's tribute to his father, Frankie Valli

9:30 p.m. Carnevale

9:45 p.m. Vito Zatto

SATURDAY

12:30 p.m. Tony Yarrio

2 p.m. Michael Perkins Sinatra-style show

3:15 p.m. Laura Volpe

3:45 p.m. Johnny Maggio

4 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

5:30 p.m. Giada Valenti "The Voice of an Angel"

6:45 p.m. Comedian Pat Capuzzi

7 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

8 p.m. Tony Spavone's "With Love from Italy"

9:30 p.m. Carnevale

9:45 p.m. Actor and comedian Joe Piscopo featuring singer Deana Martin

SUNDAY

9 a.m. Frittata breakfast

10 a.m. Mass

12:30 p.m. Enzo Incandella

1:45 p.m. Johnny Maggio

2 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

3 p.m. Joe Martino and Luigi Lenzi's authentic Italian music

4:30 p.m. Frank Pisani's music and comedy

5 p.m. The Zoppe Italian Circus

5:45 p.m. Jack Miuccio "From Sinatra to Bocceli"

7:15 p.m. The Gaylords

8:30 p.m. "Tribute to Frank and Dean" starring Jack D'Amico and Tony Ocean

9:30 p.m. Carnevale