On June 4, 1985, a group of seven people from the United Italian Central Committee met for the purpose of developing a format for an Italian American Festival. Those seven people were: Dominic Bagnoli, Nick Boscia, Mike DeGirolamo, Nick DiSimone, Vince Lemmo, Armen Pileggi, and Gulielmo (Coach) Shori. As committees were developed, more people were added and finally in January 1987, the Stark County Italian American Festival Foundation was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.

The purpose of the foundation is to promote and further the interests of all persons who support and espouse the Italian culture in America. A delegate to the foundation is provided by each of the seventeen Italian American organizations in Stark County. Beginning in 1987, and each of the following years, the foundation, with the assistande of hundreds of volunteers, has promoted and operated the Italian American Festival. Funds generated by the festival are used for the Foundations' Scholarship Fund and to promote Italian culture.

From 1987 to 1990, the festivals were held in Downtown Canton. In 1991, the festival was expanded and moved to the Stark County Fairgrounds. Each year, our dedicated volunteers continue to make additions and improvements so that our festival is bigger and better than ever before.