Buffalo, NY (WBEN) It'll be a big weekend for State Senator Mark Grisanti. Not only will he see his daughter sing with a nationally known act, he is the "Gran Ceremoniere" or grand marshal of the Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival, which begins today.

Grisanti says he's honored to be a part fo the festival. "From my Italian heritage, I look at my grandfather was one of the first Italian lawyers in Buffalo, my father still practices. Also, on my mother's side, they were part of the Italian festival when it was on Huron," says Grisanti. He also has childhood memories of the festival when it was on Connecticut Street. "There are a lot of shoes to fill of the past honorees," adds Grisanti.

Grisanti says there's one more thrill for him. "I found about this after the face, my daughter will be singing on the main stage with the Scintas," says Grisanti, who notes his daughter has filled in for Chrissy Scinta.

Grisanti says the big parts of the event are the food and the camaradie. "Everybody has their favorite from tripe, to Italian sausage to pizza," says Grisanti. "Everybody on that day is Italian, no matter what your background is, there are a lot of people getting together."

The festival runs through Sunday.