Events

$5K for 5 Years: Fifth Anniversary Gala

Friday, Nov 6, 2026 · 5:30pm · Little Italy, Cleveland · Individual ticket $75

Join us for the IAMCLE Fifth Anniversary Celebration — celebrating five years of preserving history and culture in Little Italy.

Last chance to see the exhibit Built in the Neighborhood: Italian American Boxers of Cleveland. Enjoy a special presentation of Joey Maxim's 1950 Championship Belt, dinner and an anniversary program, and a live performance by jazz songstress Vanessa Racci, seen on Netflix.

Program

5:30–6:30pm · Special presentation of Joey Maxim's 1950 Championship Belt, presented by Ron Onesti, Director, Italian American Sports Museum. Belt on view for two weeks.

7:00pm · Dinner & anniversary program by Angelo's Nido Italia

8:00pm · Live performance by jazz songstress Vanessa Racci, seen on Netflix

Location & contact

12111 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, OH 44106

To pay by check, call IAMCLE: 330-285-2950

Summer / Fall Italian Language 2026

September – November 2026 · In person · $125 per level

A welcoming, small-group introduction to Italian, with an emphasis on practical vocabulary, pronunciation and conversation. Take classes individually or as a progressive series. Registration includes all class handouts.

Sessions

Basic II: Sept 8 – Oct 13

Basic III: Oct 20 – Nov 24

Basic V: Sept 9 – Oct 14

Basic VI: Oct 21 – Nov 25

Policies

Minimum enrollment of 10; otherwise the class is canceled and refunded

No refunds after the first class; fees cannot be prorated

Severe weather may move a class to Zoom at the instructor's discretion

Open to adults and youth ages 12 and older

Italian Folk Music & Tamburello Workshop

Mondays, Sept 21 – Nov 30, 2026 · 7–8:15pm · $120 for 6 classes

Connect with the traditional songs and sounds of Italy in this workshop led by percussionist Anthony Taddeo. Participants explore authentic folk music through voice and rhythm, with selections from the Alla Boara repertoire and Alan Lomax recordings. Sessions also introduce the tamburello and the cultural context behind the music.

No prior musical experience is required.

Abruzzo & Molise: Roots of Cleveland's Italian Community

Oct 3, 2026 · 10:30am–12:30pm · $30 per person

Journey into Abruzzo and Molise — the regions at the heart of Cleveland's Italian American story. Discover the landscapes, history, traditions and enduring cultural ties that connect these neighboring regions to generations of Italian Americans in Northeast Ohio.

Dr. Paola Basile explores why so many left, how they built new lives in Cleveland, and the customs they carried with them — followed by traditional regional food and wine.

The Birth of Italia: From Kingdoms to Nation

Oct 24, 2026 · 10:30am–12:30pm · $30 per person

Italy as we know it today is the product of a long and complex history. This program explores the key figures, pivotal events and cultural forces that made the Risorgimento possible, while tracing how a shared sense of Italianità emerged as early as ancient times.

Presented by Dr. Paola Basile, with tastings of traditional foods and wines.

Italian Genealogy Conference

Saturday, Nov 14, 2026 · 9am–4pm · In person or via Zoom

Discover new resources and strategies for researching your Italian family history with nationally recognized experts Suzanne Russo Adams and Joel Cole. Eight expert-led sessions cover Italian civil, church, military and genealogical records, plus online research resources.

All registrants receive digital access to recordings of every session for two weeks after the conference.

Location

Western Reserve Historical Society's Cleveland History Center

10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106

Registration (includes continental breakfast)

Early bird, by Oct 23: $50 general · $40 CIAO, IAMCLE & ISDA members

After Oct 23: $60 general · $50 members

At the door, if space remains: $65 (no box lunch)

Optional box lunch: $15 — strongly recommended

Parking: $10 (buy now or pay at door)

Suzanne Russo Adams

Getting Started Researching Your Italian Ancestors

Exploring Catholic Marriage Records

Beyond the Index: Reading Italian Records

Same Name, Same Town: Finding the Right Ancestor

Joel Cole

In Peace and War: Italian Military Records

Italian Civil Registration Records

Online Resources for Italian Research

Update on FamilySearch / Italian Records

Presented by

Sponsored by Italian Sons & Daughters of America (ISDA), in partnership with the Cleveland Italian Ancestry Organization (CIAO) and IAMCLE

Natale in Italia: Italian Christmas Traditions

Dec 5, 2026 · 10:30am–12:30pm · $30 per person

Celebrate the season through the rich traditions of Italian Christmas — festive foods, regional customs and the spirit of family and faith. Presented by Dr. Paola Basile, with traditional Christmas food and wine and a lively game of Tombola for prizes.