From left, front row, Carrie Tirschel, Amber Pipp, Theresa Caylor, Victoria Weinfurter, Nancy Lesky, Kelly Cram and Paula Craven; back row, Nikki Bowers, Dave Beaudoin, Cole Smith, Casey Sundell and Bridget Kennedy.

IRON MOUNTAIN — The Downtown Development Authority has announced Systems Control as the Signature Sponsor for the 12th annual Italian Fest.

Italian Fest will return to downtown Iron Mountain Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the city parking lot located at the intersection of East A Street and Iron Mountain Street. Tickets are $8 at the entrance with all proceeds benefiting the Iron Mountain DDA.

“We are thrilled to have Systems Control play such an important role in the revitalization of Downtown Iron Mountain through this signature sponsorship. Being that Italian Fest is a fundraiser event for the DDA, it’s just not possible to have this event without sponsors like Systems Control,” explained Paula Craven, DDA program director. “When a business sponsors a DDA event, they are directly investing in the future vibrancy of Downtown Iron Mountain.”

This year’s children area is free to attendees, thanks to a sponsorship by Bay College, families can enjoy face painting, inflatable bounce houses, and balloon animals. The 2018 Italian Fest gold sponsors include Dickinson County Tourism, Erickson Jewelers, First National Bank and Trust, Northern Interstate Bank, and River Valley Bank. Tadych’s Econo Foods will be sponsoring the Italian Dinner Toss and Super One Foods will be returning to sponsor the Grape Stomp. Additionally, kids can choose to enter the pizza dough tossing contest, sponsored by Antonio’s Pizza. The Mountain, Frog Country and Radio Now are also providing an advertising sponsorship for the event.

Additional bronze sponsors include: 41 Lumber, Dickinson Homes, and Upper Michigan Energy Resources, in partnership with We Energies Foundation.