Mix and mingle with some of the hottest and most iconic Italian-American stars of the arts, screen, sports, and more at Paisan Con’s sophomore year, May 9-11 at the historic Williams Center in Rutherford.
The three day weekend of fun is dedicated to celebrating Italian-American heritage and pop culture while also fostering community and offering educational and historical information, organizers said.
New this year is a special Mother’s Day charity event on Sunday, May 11 featuring Jersey Boys cover band Project 63 performing the hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
What to Expect at Paisan Con
Paisan Con is an three-day-weekend affair, with the first two days, Friday, May 9 (4-11 p.m.) and Saturday, May 10 (11 a.m.-9 p.m.), centered around celebrities and all day live stage entertainment, lots of food, plenty of merchandise, and vendors galore. May 11 turns the spotlight on moms for a charity concert from 6-8 p.m..
There will be celebrity meet and greets from a variety of Italian-American icons, ranging from actors to athletes and social media influencers.
In addition to meet and greets, there will be autograph signings, Italian music, a variety of cuisine, educational talks, vendors, merchandise, and so much more to keep guests engaged.
Paisan Con 2025
Organized by Annabella House of Mozzarella owner Billy Pompeo and comedian and actor Nick Petito, Paisan Con debuted in 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fairfield, New Jersey. Fairfield was chosen for the inaugural event specifically because it is home to the most Italian Americans in the United States. This year, however, the organizers decided to stay closer to their roots in the Meadowlands, with more celebrities and sponsors and spotlighting all of it at the Williams Center and Rivoli Theater in Downtown Rutherford.
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Just a few of this year’s sponsors include Italian tourism operator Perillo Tours, clothing and accessories shop Hardcore Italians, and humidor on wheels Lefty’s Hand Rolled Cigars. There will also be plenty of food vendors serving up Italian specialties and other treats all weekend, as well as art galleries, unique vendors, and tributes to cultural icons.
In its debut in 2024, Paisan Con drew over 2,000 fans, some dressed liked their favorite Sopranos, Godfather, or other star. Paisan Con 2025 is expected to bring even more people over the three-day period, with Petito reminding everyone “you don’t have to be Italian to be a Paisan.”
The 600-seat theater inside the Williams Center will host many of the performances and screenings, which include comedy, celebrity panels, and Q&As. Celebrity guests include Vincent Curatola, Federico Castelluccio, Sofia Milos, and many others,
It’s a Sopranos Reunion
Paisan Con 2025 is set to be the largest Sopranos reunion in over seven years. From Federico Castelluccio to Matt Servitto, 15 former cast members are scheduled to attend.
All of the meet and greets, including the Sopranos stars and the other Italian movie and television icons in attendance, will all be under the same roof, in the same room. This is in contrast to the setup last year, which featured different celebrities in different areas of the venue.
Italian-American Film Festival
As a backdrop during the event, 15 movies will play throughout each day, showcasing Italian-American filmmakers or stories. Petito said he feels strongly that experiencing culture through the arts is a way to bring people together unlike any other, and it’s how he feels a connection with his deceased relatives.
The headlining films for the festival are Director’s Cut and Saturday in the Park, which is Larry Romano’s directorial debut. Director’s Cut, which is a horror movie, will be played on Friday at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in the Park is at 7 p.m., fittingly, on Saturday.
Schedule and Tickets
◾Friday, May 9 from 4 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $35
◾Saturday, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $35
◾Sunday, May 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20
◾Three Day Pass: $60
More information is here.