How Spaghetti Dinners Became A Tradition In Arkansas

It all began when Virginia Franscori Morsani brought spaghetti to a potluck picnic in 1898. While it wasn't immediately popular following its first appearance in Arkansas, Father Pietro Bandini solidified its importance when he asked Morsani to make an "approachable Italian dish" for his friends who were coming to visit in 1904 (via YouTube). Everyone absolutely loved the spaghetti dinner, and thus it became a staple at every Tontitown Grape Festival that followed (where it is one of the first things advertised when interested patrons look at the festival's website.)

Morsani's family was from Orvino, a commune in central Italy before they immigrated to the United States. While her house was over a mile away from where the festival was held every year, her determination allowed her to continue cooking spaghetti for the people of Tontitown for years. After preparing the noodle dish, she carried the pan on her head and walked nearly a mile and a half to the festival. With the help of Morsani's delicious cooking, wary Americans became more comfortable with incoming Italian immigrants. The spaghetti dinner has since become the norm in Arkansas, bringing diverse groups of people together for a delicious tomato dish.

The spaghetti dinner's importance cannot be understated when referring to the annual Tontitown Grape Festival. Arkansan Jettie Franco told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that making spaghetti every year for the festival provides an opportunity for families to join and create something together, establishing a sense of community for those in the area. The festival itself is extremely popular, providing the city with free entertainment, carnival activities, grape stomps, arts and crafts, games, and most importantly — the spaghetti dinner.

However, the city hosts more than one annual dinner in Tontitown. Anyone who finds themselves in Arkansas can easily find spaghetti dinners year-round that are hosted by Catholic churches around the state. All thanks to the immigrants who had come from Italy and shared their delicious recipes with The Natural State, Arkansas now has a beautiful tradition with a seat for anyone who wants to join the table.