Portsmouth NH 400 Announces Little Italy Carnival & Fund-raising Milestone
Historic aerial view of the former "Little Italy" neighborhood in the North End of Portsmouth. Courtesy Portsmouth Athenaeum
Portsmouth, NH (January 20, 2023) – Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. (PNH400) is presenting three signature events in 2023 to celebrate the City’s 400th anniversary: the Grand 400th Parade on June 3, street.life!400, One Community - 400 Years - One Dinner on August 15 and the Little Italy Carnival on Aug 6. All three signature events are designed to reflect the goals of PNH400: authentic, diverse, inclusive, accessible, sustainable, proud of our community, engaged in our future generations, and fun.
The Little Italy Carnival is intended to be free, open and accessible to the community and a tribute to families that were displaced, and neighborhoods torn down in the name of urban renewal in both the North End and at Puddle Dock. The North End was called Little Italy for its neighborhood of immigrants from all over Italy, but a diverse mix of several working-class ethnic groups including Irish and Greek lived there.
The Carnival celebrates those families and others who retain their memories of their traditions and roots, many of them coming from Santarcangelo di Romagna. Santarcangelo signed a formal Friendship City agreement with Portsmouth in December 2019 via teleconference and in the celebratory company of a dozen Portsmouth descendants.
One of several initiatives being pursued by the PNH400 Community and Neighborhoods team, the Carnival is organized by the Little Italy Carnival and Masquerade Ball Committee of Massimo Morgia, Robyn Aldo, Dawn Przychodzien, Robin Lurie-Myerkopf, Mary Carey Foley, Francesca Fernald, Judi Currie, Nancy Clayburgh, Julie Cutting, Carolyn Dagostino, Laura Pope, Joan Lyons and Laurie Mantegari. A Masquerade Ball on July 29 is being planned as a fundraiser for the Carnival.
“The Little Italy Carnival will be a fantastic, family event filled with fabulous Italian food, live music, performers from the Boston Circus Guild and a chance for the reunion of former residents whose Italian heritage continues to add so many rich traditions to our community,”
Fundraising efforts to date include a house party hosted by Claudia and Alex Choquette and three raffles: a dinner for 10 at Massimo’s, BRGR Bar gift certificates and now a dinner for 10 at Cure Restaurant.
“The Little Italy Carnival will be a fantastic, family event filled with fabulous Italian food, live music, performers from the Boston Circus Guild and a chance for the reunion of former residents whose Italian heritage continues to add so many rich traditions to our community,” said Massimo Morgia. “The Carnival and the Masquerade Ball fundraiser—with food, wine, dancing and costume masks-encouraged—are shaping up to be the kind of events you won’t want to miss, so plan ahead!”
In collaboration with PNH400, the Little Italy Carnival Committee has raised $87,000 toward its goal of $250,000 to make the event free to all. That milestone was reached thanks to a $25,000 PNH400 Lightkeeper sponsorship by The DiLorenzo Family and three $10,000 PNH400 Beacon level sponsorships from:
Paul and Jessica McKeon Charitable Fund
Paul and Jessica McKeon are supporting the Little Italy Carnival because they wanted to lend support to the whole Portsmouth NH 400th celebration and only recently learned about the vibrant Italian-American community who made their homes in the North End. “We love living here in Portsmouth and the city’s history,” said Paul McKeon. “This piece of the celebration resonated with us because though we live on Vaughan Street, we had no idea of the homes, stores and people who once flourished here. It’s a part of Portsmouth’s history we were not aware of and hope the Little Italy Carnival will help bring that history back to life.”
James and Samantha Baldini
James Baldini’s grandfather arrived in Lynn, MA from Santarcangelo in 1900 where they lived and worked, while sustaining their connections with an extended family of cousins and uncles – also from Santarcangelo, who had settled in Portsmouth. Jim remembers visiting those Portsmouth relatives into the 1950s. Then the same thing happened in Lynn: urban renewal demolished a neighborhood and exiled its residents to find new homes outside of the familiar bonds they had made. That loss is what prompted Jim and Samantha Baldini to make their generous donation in support of the Little Italy Carnival and the lost North End.
Granite State Minerals
Granite State Minerals is the Little Italy Carnival Band and Stage Sponsor, and they are generously donating the use of their waterfront property for the event, at no charge. “We are happy to support the Little Italy Carnival. It sounds like it will be a great event for the city! We are really looking forward to it,” said Shelagh Mahoney, owner and operator of Granite State Minerals. Founded by the Mahoney Family in 1960, the company is regularly described as one of the reasons Portsmouth can sustain its working harbor. “The diversity, vitality, and economy of the port make the city of Portsmouth a truly unique place to live and work,” said Mahoney.
For more information on sponsorships, donations and other funding opportunities for the Little Italy Carnival, please contact Massimo Morgia at 978-758-1752 or massimo101@comcast.net or at littleitalycarnival@gmail.com.
About Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. (PortsmouthNH400.org)
The Portsmouth NH 400th anniversary celebrations are made possible in part thanks to the support of Bank of America, Piscataqua Savings Bank, The DiLorenzo Family, Local IQ, members of the 400 Shoalers Club and 1623 Revolutionaries Club and additional sponsors and donors. The goal of Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. is to give the community an inclusive opportunity to tell the stories that are important to them, through programs, events, exhibits and legacy projects. Portsmouth NH 400th celebrates the diverse and animated social, political, intellectual, cultural, economic and spiritual history of Portsmouth, from before settlement in 1623 to the present. Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. invites individuals and organizations considering programs and events for the Portsmouth NH 400th Anniversary celebration to join the collaborative effort. A key intention is for the Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. team to engage the next generation(s) in exploring what the City’s 2023 legacy might be and deciding how they might steward Portsmouth and its history beyond 2023.
