KINGSTON, N.Y. -- It's the largest crowd organizers have ever seen at Kingston's annual Italian Festival this past weekend.

The festival is put together annually by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation and took over Kingston's Rondout Waterfront all day Sunday.

The foundation's president says it's their third year in charge of the food and music filled festivities.

Beyond celebrating Italian heritage - the president of the Ulster County Italian American Foundation also called it a promotion of peace and they're already planning ahead towards next year's celebration.

"Absolutely. We'll critique it because we're hardest on ourselves. But we've done a whole bunch of things right. We're going to work it go get it bigger and better next year. Again, this is our biggest and best, and we're gonna beat it next year," said Ulster County Italian American Foundation President Tony Marmo.

Organizers say proceeds raised throughout the day from the festival will go towards the UCIAF Scholarship Fund.