The 13th annual “Benvenuti! Italian Festival” returns to St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on Munn Road, Fort Mill, Thursday through May 17.

The festivities will begin with the children’s costume parade led by the Dora and Diego characters from Carowinds at 5 p.m. Thursday. This year, for the first time, a Prince and Princess Benvenuti will be crowned, with the awards going to the boy and girl with the best costumes.

The winners will also get trophies.Last week, about a dozen volunteers piled into the kitchen at St. Philip Neri to turn 900 pounds of raw pork into sausage links using Joe Tramontana’s secret recipe.

“We decided to go up to 900 pounds this year because we ran out last year,” Tramontana said. “Last year we had 650 pounds.”

Another first at this year’s festival is the Italian Idol Talent Contest. The competition was open to anyone with any kind of talent. Preliminary judges narrowed the field this past weekend. The finalists will compete starting at 1 p.m. May 17, in front of a panel of celebrity judges.

The show’s first-place winner will take home $200 and a spot in the Charlotte Music Awards showcase. Second prize is $100 and the choice of either a spa package at Belle Vive or a one-hour photo session with Michelle Ballard Photography. The third place contestant receives the prize not chosen by the second-place winner.

The judges include Roger Cullis of the Charlotte Music Awards, Leslie Nease of New Life 91.9 FM and” Survivor: China,” and Jay Taylor and Marc Hanna of WRHI’s Morning Show. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the top three performers.

In addition to the ever-popular homemade Italian food, the festival will feature live and silent auctions and more than 30 vendor booths, including some fine arts and crafts.

Festival organizers are also adding more kids’ games and rides this year, including a rock climbing wall and “Jurassic Adventure.”

Want to go?

What: 13th annual “Benvenuti! Italian Festival”

Where: St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Munn Road, Fort Mill,

When: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. May 16, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 17.