SPICEY BITE: Katie Salerno takes a munch on some mouth-watering salami at the weekend’s Festa Delle Salsicce. Organisers are toying with the idea of expanding the hugely popular event.
A BIGGER venue, a ball or even some bocce - these are just some of the ideas that could take the hugely popular Festa Delle Salsicce to the next level.
Following the success of this year's Festival of the Sausage, organiser Roy Catanzariti said it was time to start brainstorming future possibilities for the event.
With the festival bringing hundreds of people to Griffith every year, Mr Catanzariti said it made sense to capitalise on the tourism and turn the weekend into a celebration of the city's Italian roots.
"It does bring a lot of people to the town but a lot of them only come up on the Sunday because they tell me there's nothing to do on the Saturday night," he said.
"There was talk of putting on a big ball but that didn't eventuate. Something has to happen on the Saturday."
Griffith Business Chamber president Paul Pierotti this year tried to organise a special Mangia Mangia dinner the night before with a salami expert as the guest speaker, but it didn't go ahead.
Mr Catanzariti said Mr Pierotti had the right idea but, with people already buying tickets to attend the festival, some might be reluctant to pay out again for Saturday night entertainment.
"I did speak with Paul Pierotti about it all and I thought it was a great idea," he said.
"We were talking about holding bocce tournaments and cycling races even the gondola races we used to have 50 years ago.
"Something needs to be held on the Saturday night but we need someone who is willing to organise it I'm trying to get a couple of younger people involved at the moment."
One of this year's salami judges, 2008 Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovic, said turning the weekend into a celebration of Italian heritage was a great idea.
"I was surprised to see how big this event was," Ms Dundovic said.
"Griffith is not just a quiet little country town - there's an amazing sense of culture and there's so much to see and do.
"It would be fantastic to see an Italian festival with Italian music and films it's part of the culture and it needs to be celebrated."