CATHEDRAL CITY — Get your taste buds ready for an explosion of flavor at the Seventh Annual Sammy’s International Meatball Festival.

It has become a must-attend event.

Meatball Festival

Cathedral City firefighters/paramedics were dishing out what they called a “Fireball.” The delectable was a wonton filled with crab, shrimp and pork bathed in a secret sauce.

Sammy’s International Meatball Festival brings out some healthy competition among City Hall staff, members of the City Council, firefighters, and police officers. Last year, then-City Councilmember Mark Carnevale, owner of Nicolino’s Famous Italian Restaurant, introduced a meatball taco. He chose a Latino-style meatball with pork and beef, tomatillo sauce, and Pico de Gallo — all nestled in a warm flour tortilla.

What will he feature this year, or will he keep it a top secret?

The Seventh Annual Sammy’s International Meatball Festival will be held Sunday, Oct. 6,  from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year the fundraiser will be held at The Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City club facilities in Cathedral City, 32-141 Whispering Palms Trail in Cathedral City. (Note: This is a new location this year.)

Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children under 16.

The price of admission includes Meatball Tastings, Entertainment, Raffles, Kid’s Zone, and access to Sammy’s Beer & Wine Garden.

The Title Sponsor for the Seventh Annual Sammy’s Meatball International Festival is the Cyndi Andrews Memoriam. Andrews, 70, died on May 11, 2019 after a long illness. A memorial service was held at Sammy’s, her go-to restaurant. She frequented the restaurant so often that it named a salad after her.

Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City’s mission: To inspire and enable all young people, especially from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. The Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City is a youth-serving organization that provides opportunities for a Great Future through a safe place, with caring mentors, and life-enhancing programs. All donations support on-going Club programs and services that promote academic success, healthy lifestyles, and good character and citizenship. The Boys and Girls Club gives hope to an entire city and this fundraiser will help these positive experiences to continue.

For more information about the event or to become a sponsor, please call 760-770-4965, email [email protected], or click here.

The Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Tax ID# 95-3507225

Image Sources

  • Meatball Festival: Cindy Uken
  • Nicolinlo’s: Cindy Uken