Bennett set to kick off Rio festival

Monday, Oct. 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Tickets are available at the Rio box office and all TicketMaster locations. Tickets are $150 (Gold Circle), $100 (VIP seating), $75 (floor) and $50 (general admission).

Bravo Card is sponsoring Bennett's tour, and a portion of the proceeds from each concert will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

On Sunday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with entertainment and Italian cuisine provided by Las Vegas restaurants. Admission is free and all food items are $3 or less.

The free entertainment includes Italian songs performed by Dick Contino, the Fratelli Bologna Brothers Stilt Walkers and Signorini Linguini.

Part of the fun will be contests such as grape-stomping, spaghetti-eating, a bocce tournament, the best sauce competition and the best pizza contest.

Children will enjoy the activities in Bambini's Corner, located in the Grand Ballroom. Free face painting and balloons will be available for all the kids, along with special performances by comic ventriloquist Ken Carter at noon, 2, 4:30 and 6 p.m.

A new addition to the Rio Italian Festival is the Wine and Cheese Terrace, sponsored by Southern Nevada Wine and Spirits. While sampling a variety of fine wines, you can enjoy cheese, fruit and freshly baked bread from the Rio's own Toscano's bakery. All proceeds from beverage sales at the Wine and Cheese Terrace will benefit a local charity.

For information, call the Event Hotline, 247-7895.

Tony Bennett