Building a New Tradition: Permanent Bocce Courts for the Columbus Italian Festival
For nearly 20 years, Ciminello’s Landscape has proudly supported the Columbus Italian Festival and its celebration of Italian heritage, community and tradition in Columbus, Ohio.
In 2026, that longstanding relationship gave our team an opportunity to contribute in a new way.
Ahead of the 2026 Columbus Italian Festival, Ciminello’s helped construct six permanent bocce courts at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Italian Village—giving one of the festival’s traditions a dedicated place to call home.
A New Home for Bocce at the Columbus Italian Festival
Bocce has long been part of Italian culture and the Columbus Italian Festival experience.
This year, festival-goers will experience it in a new setting.
Rather than preparing temporary courts specifically for festival weekend, six permanent bocce courts now provide a dedicated space for competition, gathering and tradition.
For Ciminello’s, the project was particularly meaningful because it brought together two things that have been part of our company for decades: building outdoor spaces and supporting our Central Ohio community.
Building Six Permanent Bocce Courts
Creating a permanent outdoor space requires thinking beyond how it will look on opening day.
The space needs to function properly, withstand continued use and remain part of the property for years to come.
Our crews worked through the construction process to transform the designated area at St. John the Baptist into six finished bocce courts.
Follow the Construction
Throughout the project, we documented the transformation from the early stages of construction through the completed courts.
Breaking Ground
The first stage began with preparing the site and establishing the foundation for the new permanent courts.
Taking Shape
As construction continued, the layout of the six courts became increasingly visible and the space began transforming into its finished form.
Finishing the Courts
The final stages brought together the details necessary to prepare the courts for their first Columbus Italian Festival.
More Than a Construction Project
At Ciminello’s, we spend much of our time designing and building outdoor spaces for homeowners throughout Central Ohio.
While this project was different from a residential landscape, the purpose behind a great outdoor space remains remarkably similar.
Bring people together.
A backyard patio can become the place where a family gathers for dinner.
An outdoor fireplace can become the place where friends spend a fall evening.
And six bocce courts can become a place where generations gather around a shared tradition.
That's what makes this project special to our team.
We didn't simply get to watch another outdoor space take shape.
We got to help create a place where memories will continue being made.
Nearly 20 Years of Supporting the Columbus Italian Festival
The bocce courts represent the newest chapter in a relationship that goes back nearly two decades.
Ciminello’s has proudly sponsored the Columbus Italian Festival for nearly 20 years, supporting an event that brings Italian heritage, food, music, entertainment and community together in the heart of Italian Village.
Our involvement with the festival has never been about a single weekend.
It's about supporting a Central Ohio tradition and the people who continue carrying it forward.
Experience the New Bocce Courts in 2026
The 2026 Columbus Italian Festival takes place October 9–11 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Columbus' Italian Village.
This year's theme, Roma Eterna: All Roads Lead to Rome, celebrates the history, culture and enduring influence of Rome.
Visitors will once again be able to experience the food, music, entertainment and traditions that have made the festival a Columbus tradition—with six new permanent bocce courts ready for competition.
We’re proud to have played a part in bringing them to life.
And we're even more excited to see what happens on them next.
Comments