The temperature was still in the triple digits as the sun set more than the Silverton casino, in which the hundreds of Las Vegans gathered Thursday for the 32nd annual San Gennaro Feast.

“The heat is obnoxious, but once the sun goes down, it is all food and fun,” stated Michael Prise of Las Vegas. “No temperature can maintain me away from a excellent chicken Parmesan sandwich.”

Meals was on the minds of everyone who attended the twice-yearly feast, the valley’s largest Italian festival held in honor of the patron saint of Naples.

For meals vendor Adam Barkin, the Feast is a time to share family members recipes handed down from his Italian ancestors.

“It’s the greatest thing to see all the men and women out right here attempting the authentic Italian meals,” said Barkin, owner of Anthony’s World Popular Sausages in Las Vegas. “We truly take pleasure in cooking it.”

Barkin’s restaurant will cook about 300 pounds of sausage and 500 pounds of meatballs more than the course of the feast, which began Tuesday and ends Sunday. So, what makes Barkin’s food unique?

“Italian components, and it is produced by an Italian old lady,” he stated. “The recipes date back 30 years ago from Naples.”

For Emilio Baglioni, the feast reminds him of his childhood growing up in a rural village in northern Italy. Baglioni immigrated to the United States in 1959 and has been playing the accordion at the festival for the final 10 many years.

“It’s so gorgeous after so several many years,” Baglioni mentioned. “You feel at home right here.”

Johnny Luv, his wife, Jennifer, and their youngsters Seth, 9, and Riley, six, have been coming to the festival for the previous 11 many years. The Summerlin residents have a program for navigating the maze of booths.

“We come about five p.m., do a tour of the merchandise, hit the games and the rides, consume dinner even though watching the exhibits and then eat dessert on the way out,” Johnny Luv said. “We’ve got our program set.”

For the Luvs, it is much less about celebrating their Italian heritage and far more about forging household traditions.

“It’s about investing time collectively,” Johnny Luv mentioned. “It’s like our Christmas. We hope our kids remember and pass it down.”