Thanks for a great year, everyone! See you September 27 – 29, 2019
2018 Italian Festival!
Welcome to Seattle’s 31st Annual Festa Italiana! Festa Italiana is an all-volunteer community organization which produces an annual series of events the last week of September, culminating in a FREE Italian Festival at Seattle Center. Since 1988, Festa Italiana has been celebrating the cultural roots of Italians and Italian-Americans in the Pacific Northwest by promoting the arts, the food and the culture that are uniquely Italian.
Where and When
Come join us in the beautiful Fisher Pavilion and the surrounding grounds and buildings of the Seattle Center, as we present the 31st Annual Italian Festival:
Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
September 29 & 30, 2018
10AM – 7PM, Saturday and Sunday
Highlights
Our highlights include Galbani’s celebrity Chef Marco Sciortino from Marco’s in Buffalo, New York, headlining a great schedule of cooking demos on the Galbani “Great Italian Chefs” Cooking stage, “Opera for Kids” starring Spotlight Repertory NW, and a Grape Stomping competition which has to be seen to be believed! By popular demand, the Food Court & Vendor Market has been expanded as well.
Celebrity Chefs
Over the years we have had demos from chef’s representing such local restaurants as: Café Juanita, Tulio, il Fornaio, Il Terrazzo Carmine, Café Bengodi, Serefina, Assaggio, etc. Some of their recipes can be found in our online Recipe Collection. At the same time, we have featured such national culinary luminaries as Mario Batali, Giuliano Bugali, Anne Burrell, Biba Caggiano, Michael Chiarello, Rocco DiSpirito, Mary Ann Esposito, Maria Liberati, Michol Negrin, Christina Pirello, Rosella Rago and Nick Stellino.
Taste of Italy™ Wine Tasting and Opening Reception
Friday, September 28th at 7PM we will also present the Taste of Italy™ Wine Tasting and Opening Reception in the Armory at Seattle Center. Featuring music by Danny Quintero, over 70 Italian wines to taste, and delicious Hors d’oeuvres and antipasti from Big John’s PFI. Tickets are $30 per person and you must be 21 or older to enter. (Service charges apply.)
Family Fun
As always, we will again offer a wide array of cultural and educational opportunities in which to participate and learn. Year after year, however, our main attractions continue to be food, entertainment and fun for the whole family!
Opera for Kids
Local opera troupe, Spotlight Repertory NW present their popular production of E. Humperdinck’s classic tale, “Hansel & Gretel”.
There will be two 40-minute performances each day at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, at Tino’s Cortile, Seattle Center Pavilion.
Galbani’s celebrity Chef Marco Sciortino from Marco’s in Buffalo, New York.
Raffle
Win a one-week stay for two in Italy in the Tuscan hilltown Montepulciano, donated by Italy4Real.com. Includes a free car rental for a week!
Raffle Tickets $5 a piece. Only 1,000 chances will be sold. Drawing at 6:00pm Sunday in the Fisher Pavilion.
KING5, New Day NW
Mbrascatu
This popular indie band from Portland, Oregon will only be playing on Sunday this year. With their songs sung in the Calabrese dialect, this is “Tarantella Rock” at its finest!
Sponsored in part by a grant from King County’s 4Culture.
mbrascatu.com
Get Involved
Festa Italiana is a community driven event, so if you’re interested in getting involved we have several ways in which you could help: