Changes coming to Buffalo's Galbani Italian Heritage Festival

In a few weeks, the Galbani Italian Heritage Festival will return to Buffalo's Outer Harbor. This will be the second year the festival will be in its new location after several decades on Hertel Avenue.

Organizers took some lessons from last year and are implementing changes to the festival.

Parking was one area of concern for some visitors to the festival in 2017. This year, the parking lots have been reorganized to allow for more parking closer to the main entrance.

The festival will also feature a new layout with vendor booths around the outside with a central "Piazza" for seating.

"We outgrew our space on Hertel Avenue," Marco Sciortino, spokesperson for the Italian Festival, explained. "By putting it at the outer harbor we're able to do a lot more items. Last year we had a car show. We had a motorcycle show. We had the biggest crowd ever for Sal Valentinetti on Saturday night last year with well over 15,000 people."

America's Got Talent star Sal Valentinetti returns this year. Also performing will be Frankie Valli cover band Lights Out, Franco Corso and others.

Another new highlight this year will be a fireworks show on Friday night.

Like last year, guests will need to pay a $5 charge to get into the festival. For seniors, the cost is $2. Veterans with ID and children under 12 get in for free.