Grounds styled to evoke Rome Fun and fantasy at Italian Festival in Wilmington.

The Italian Festival sponsored by St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, will fill the void for all things Italiano left by Tony and his gang when The Sopranos ended this week.

The 28th annual festival features traditional food, music, dancing and crafts designed to celebrate and introduce young people to Italian culture.

The church grounds will represent the city of Rome. Guests are welcome to throw a coin over their shoulders into a replica of La Fontana di Trevi for good luck and for a wish to come true. Indulge your sweet tooth with a cappuccino or cannoli in the makeshift piazza while enjoying performances by the Vivaci Dancers, who also will teach the crowd a traditional Italian folk dance. Visitors can learn palm weaving, lace making, Sicilian bread making and Mosaic art from various artisans in the marketplace.

Without ever boarding a plane, festival-goers can appreciate Italian architecture by taking a guided tour of the church itself, with its magnificent stained glass, mosaics and bold bronze doors.

If kids tire of the language lessons and the genealogy research at the festival, they can hop on any one of the exciting rides. Divertiti!

Italian Festival, 2-10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Ninth and DuPont Streets, Wilmington. Free. Information and event times: 302-421-3700 or www.stanthonynet.org.

In 1898, Samuel Stewart Fleisher welcomed poor neighborhood boys to the Jewish Union building on Bainbridge Street for free art classes.

These gatherings grew to include children and adults of all races and cultures. It was known as the Graphic Sketch Club until Fleisher's death in 1944, when it was dedicated in his memory as the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial to ensure the continued tradition of providing art instruction to the community free of charge.

This Saturday, children and their families are invited to ARTSpiration, a day-long event of art-making and performances at the Fleisher Art Memorial. Hands-on workshops include printmaking, painting, drawing and ceramics. Kulu Mele, a West African dance troupe; Roko Kawai, a modern dance group inspired by Japanese classical dance; and Pasion y Arte, a flamenco dance group, are among the afternoon's performing artists.

ARTSpiration, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St. Free. Information: 215-922-3456, Ext. 314 or www.fleisher.org.

Contact writer Brooke Honeyford at

www.phillynews.com.

Of course, I think my dad is the best; but now Sesame Place - the local theme park based on characters from Sesame Street - will put this sentiment to the test. "My Dad's the Best" will challenge dads to show off their domestic talents in hair braiding and laundry folding. While the kids enjoy the park's new playland, Elmo's World, the family patriarch can peruse the Harley Davidson display and meet the Philadelphia Eagles' cheerleaders. Kids can also make a special gift for dad at arts and crafts tables sponsored by Lowe's home improvement stores.

"My Dad's the Best," 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Rd., Langhorne. Admission: $44.50; free under 2. Information: 215-752-7070 or www.sesameplace.com.