‘Wife Swap’ to tape segment in Las Vegas

By Jerry Fink

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | 4:32 p.m.

ABC’s hit series “Wife Swap” will tape a segment of its show at the 30th annual San Gennaro Feast this weekend.

“This is a great festival and we’re going to get some national recognition,” says Tony Sacca, who books acts and hosts the entertainment at the festival.

Among this year's performers is the Las Vegas-based Fulco Family.

“I was totally surprised,” says Sacca, a longtime Vegas performer and syndicated TV host. “I just know they’re great entertainers. I had no idea they were about to become television stars.”

The family will be part of “Swap,” with mother Vanessa trading places with the mother of another family.

The Fulco Family includes Vanessa (keyboards), her husband Joey (who plays five instruments and once toured with Julian Lennon), daughter Joei, 12 (vocalist/guitar) and son Jesse (vocalist/bass).

“They’re like modern-day Partridge Family,” says Sacca. “I booked the kids last year and everyone loved them so I brought them back this year.”

The group will be filmed while performing at 8:20 p.m. Friday.

The festival is being held at W. Flamingo Road at I-215 at the Grand Canyon Parkway shopping center, 4245 Grand Canyon Parkway.

The hours are 4 to 11 p.m. today and Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.

Regular admission is $7 for adults or $6 for seniors. Children under 54 inches tall get in free. For information go to www.sangennarofeast.org.

The festival includes carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, Italian food, a beer garden and nightly entertainment.

This is the 30th year for the festival, which is held in May and September each year in honor of San Gennaro, a Catholic saint from Naples, Italy.

There will also be animal exhibits featuring a 250-pound snake and royal white tigers.