YOUNGSTOWN — Seeing some of the struggles in many people her age inspired Shelby Wellington to swap a major in dance for one that entails a lot more talking.

“I’m looking forward to being a personal counselor to work with young adults to get them through the troubles of life. More and more kids are getting lost these days,” Wellington, of Poland, explained.

To get there, Wellington, a Youngstown State University graduate student, is studying clinical mental health counseling, she said.

On Friday evening, the YSU student was combining a healthful dose of entertainment with efforts to uplift especially children, because she was dressed as Elsa of Arendelle, a main princess character in the 2013 Disney film “Frozen” and the 2019 sequel “Frozen II,” for the 23rd annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival.

The festivities at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mount Carmel Ave., continue 5 to 10 p.m. today and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Among the children Wellington formed a quick bond with were siblings Blake and Summer Olesky, 2 and 3, respectively, of Boardman, and friend Lucky Santoro, 4, of Campbell.

“We’re going to have cavatelli with meatballs and maybe a sausage sandwich,” Danielle Black of New Castle, Pa., said.

In the meantime, her children, Tianna, 10, and Trinity, 12, and their friend, Lilly Gipson, 11, also of New Castle, were undergoing a touch of hair tinseling, courtesy of Michele DeTunno, who is part of the festival. The strands of thin, colored and iridescent tinsel gave the girls’ hair an added look of glittery and shimmery highlights — and an extra layer of fun for the fest.

The family came Friday to the family-oriented gathering to celebrate Italian culture and heritage also because Danielle Black’s husband, Terry, participated in the morra game, she added.

The hand game, said to be about 3,000 years old, challenges two players at a time to simultaneously reveal their hands and present a number of fingers between one and five while calling out a number between two and 10. Anyone else scores a point for correctly guessing the summation of fingers both players reveal.

Steve Malkovits quickly and rhythmically was using all of his fingers and both hands to prepare and serve cavatelli in the social hall.

“I’ve been a member (of Our Lady of Mount Basilica) for 58 years,” Malkovits, of Canfield, said.

He also works for Fusillo Catering Inc., the main location of which is at the church, and has been dishing up the cavatelli all 23 years of the festival.

Lou Fusillo, who also was at the fest Friday and has been a church member for more than 50 years, began the business in 1976. His son, Mark, a 1989 Ursuline High School graduate who attended the Pittsburgh Culinary Arts Institute, now owns and operates the business.

On the cooler side of things is Alexander Papa, who runs a business called Papa Gelateria and is selling at the fest three varieties of gelato: vanilla bean, chocolate and strawberry.

“We just set up in Penguin City Beer on May 1,” said Papa, who also has a seasonal location in New Castle.

Gelato, which is an Italian ice cream, differs from the more traditional varieties, in that it uses less butterfat and more whole milk as well as fresh ingredients. In addition, the dessert tends to be denser and is served at a slightly warmer temperature, giving it the consistency of soft ice cream, Papa explained.

Other items for sale at the fest include sterling silver and steel rings, T-shirts and sweatshirts, a large array of pastries, custom-made coasters with various sayings, rosary beads and other religious pieces.

The event also features 18 mainly food vendors and has a largely expanded area for children’s games and activities. Another event is a little prince and princess contest.

Today’s entertainment lineup will consist of the Del Sinchak Band, Jim Frank, The Avanti Band, Italian Serenade and Mirella. In addition, Gil Italiani and Pino Morelli, who are performing today, also will take the stage Sunday.

Additional Sunday performances scheduled for the two stages are Paul Calise, D-Major, Butch Nichols and Marco Fiorante.

If you go …

WHAT: The 23rd annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Italian Festival

WHERE: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mount Carmel Ave., Youngstown

WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. today and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

COST: $5 per person. Children 12 and under with a parent are admitted free