The board and volunteers of Festa Italiana Seattle work hard all year round to help make the annual festival an event to remember, but we owe much of our success to the generous and continuous support provided by our corporate, organizational and individual sponsors.
Festál 2021: Now in its 25th year, Festál is a coalition of twenty-four ethnic and cultural festivals held throughout the year at Seattle Center. See the annual calendar and learn more about Festál’s impact on the community.
Seattle Center: “Seattle’s Living Room” and the Northwest region’s premier destination for arts, entertainment, sports and leisure activities. In 2022, Seattle Center will celebrate its 60th Anniversary and that of the 1962 World’s Fair.
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods: is the single largest funder of the infrastructure brought in by Festa Italiana to produce the Italian Festival at Seattle Center. Our appreciation to them and their partners Seattle Center and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is unbounded.
4Culture: King County cultural service organization that funds the arts. Entertainment at the Italian Festival is supported in part by a grant from 4Culture, as was the filming of our Virtual Italian Festival 2020.
Isernio’s Sausage: The not-so-secret ingredient in the famous Italian Sausage Sandwiches sold at the Italian Festival for 27 years, and a co-presenter of the “Great Italian Chefs” Cooking Stage. Isernio’s has expanded dramatically the last few years and is now available nationwide. Take a look at their entire product line and view their cooking demos!
Wine & Beer: This year with pride and gratitude, we welcome back four beverage sponsors from the last two years. “ITALIA” Italian-Style Lager from Chainline Brewing, brewed close by in Kirkland, WA. ColleMassari Melacce Vermentino from the Montecucco region in Tuscany, ColleMassari Rosso Riserva, a Sangiovese blend again from la Toscana, finally, wait for it… the fabulous Zardetto Prosecco Brut from the Veneto. For Wine & Beer Gardens at an Italian festival, these are superior products you would usually find in an upscale restaurant. Once our patrons try this beer and these wines, they are going to go “pazzesco!”
Merlino Foods: Now a longtime sponsor of Festa and especially the La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage, Merlino Foods, founded in 1900, has always been an icon in Seattle’s culinary history as a distributor of fine restaurant products and ingredients.
Galbani Cheese: Galbani Cheese: As they have since 2018, “Italy’s #1 Cheese” returns as the banner sponsor of the La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage where we present the best of Italian cooking in the Northwest. Due to health concerns, we were not able to offer free samples for a couple years but now patrons can look forward to many, free, tasty treats. Meanwhile, visit Galbani’s website for recipes and special offers.
Big John’s PFI: Once again, Festa welcomes back old friends Big John’s PFI and Pacific Food Importers, both as a sponsor and the official supplier of pasta, olive oil and spaghetti sauce to the Italian Festival. You can find their products at their retail outlet store at: 1608 S. Dearborn St. in Seattle or at many fine restaurants and retail shops.
Italy4real.com: Longtime sponsor of the Italian Festival and underwriter of our popular raffle, Italy4real has been helping travelers since 1995. They are the foremost experts on guided tours, independent tours, villa rentals and agriturismo in Italy. While you won’t be able to stop by their booth this year, be sure to visit them online.
Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria: Makers of authentic Neapolitan pizza (certified by the Consorzio Napolitano) and longtime sponsor of the ever-popular Tutta Bella Grape Stomp, Tutta Bella has a huge presence at Festa with their D’Asporto Pizza Truck. You can also find their Grab-n-Go options at your local QFC supermarket, or visit their website for more information.
MSC Cruises Festa is proud to welcome MSC Cruises from Italy as our newest sponsor. MSC Cruises is the world’s third-largest cruise line as well as the leader in Europe, South America, the Gulf region, and southern Africa. They are now creating a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and the Far East. MSC Cruises is a sponsor of the Festa Pasta Booth and will also have a Cruise Booth in the Fisher Pavilion, so please visit to learn more.
Seattle Office of Arts & Culture: Year after year, one of the most consistent supporters of Live entertainment at the Italian Festival, enabling us to feature as many as 20 different acts and solo performers in one weekend. Please visit their website.
Oh Boy! Oberto: Oberto is the sponsor of one of Festa’s most popular events, the Oberto Bocce Tournament. Oberto’s philosophy for decades has been “simple is better: fewer ingredients allow the flavor of the meat to shine through.” This year we are featuring Oberto Charcuterie, a line of cold cuts imported directly from Italy.
De Cecco Pasta As their logo proudly proclaims, the family that owns De Cecco Pasta have been milling 100% semolina wheat into pasta of 1,000 shapes and sizes in Italy since 1831. In fact, De Cecco is the third largest manufacturer of pasta in the world. Come try some at the Festa Pasta Booth, and learn how to cook it at the La Cucina Galbai Cooking Demonstrations.
Charlie’s Produce: Devoted to giving back to our community, this independent, full-service produce company is focused on sourcing an extensive selection of fruits and vegetables from local growers, whenever possible, and supplying retail and foodservice customers. Learn more at their website.
The Mediterranean Inn: Loaded with European charm and only two blocks away from the Seattle Center, the Mediterranean Inn is the official Hotel Sponsor of Festa Italiana and the “home away from home” of our entertainers and Celebrity Chefs.
Torani Syrups: Makers of Italian flavored syrups and more… joined us with San Pellegrino Sparkling Water as partners in our Italian Soda booth many years ago. Download recipes and learn more about this fascinating Italian-American enterprise by checking out their website.
West Coast Italian Radio Show: Partners of Festa Italiana in promoting the joy of “All Things Italian” in the Pacific NW. Listen to them live every Monday at 3 PM on 1150-AM KKNW. Sponsored in part by the La Stella Foundation.
San Pellegrino: Proudly returns to Festa each year as our official sponsor of Italian sparkling mineral water. You can usually buy San Pellegrino at the Italian Festival either in the cute little 8 oz. green bottles or in our delicious Italian Sodas. They also have a wonderful non-sparkling Italian mineral water, Acqua Panna. Visit their website to learn more about these products and where to find them in your neighborhood.
La Stella Foundation: Changing Lives through the Magic of Music. Website.
Tito’s Vodka: Festa Italiana welcomes new sponsor, Tito’s Vodka, the secret ingredient in a Tito’s Spritzer made with San Pellegrino flavored sparkling water and Tito’s Vodka. Salute!
For the past several years, Domenico Minotti has prepared a quiz for Festa Italiana, an annual celebration of Italian culture, food and music held each year at the Seattle Center at the end of September. Since this year’s Festa Italiana will be virtual, Domenico has prepared a virtual quiz to go along with that. The quiz was premiered September 9th 2020 at the Dante Alighieri Society’s English Language meeting held virtually on Zoom. Links to PDFs of the quiz and the answer key along with the presentation are available below.
In the late 1920s, Nick’s parents emigrated from Sant’Angelo, Limosano, a small hilltop town in Molise. The population at that time was about 1000 but is now 345 as Nick learned on a visit last year. The family spoke their dialect at home. Nick studied Italian at Columbia University and Perugia and got lots of practice while on Fulbright study grants in Milan in the mid 60’s. Nick returned to the states and to his first love, medicine, at Georgetown University and came to Seattle in 1976 to work at the US Public Health Hospital on Beacon Hill, better known as the Marine Hospital. He and his father Pasquale would attend Dante meetings back then but took a break until retirement a few years ago. Nick serves as a Consigliere for our Dante group.
A special memorial collection of works has been added to “Le Arti della Festa Italiana” Art Exhibit at the Italian Festival this year in honor of Roberto Mario Tacchi whose elegant woodcarvings adorn Seattle public spaces and personal collections and who passed away May 15, 2019 at the age of 80. Born in Florence Italy, Roberto learned his craft from his father, becoming the seventh generation of woodcarvers in the Tacchi family.
As opposed to his large public works, this collection will be of “chamber pieces” that he carved primarily for family, friends and private collectors. They will be on display in the Armory on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 & 29, 2019 from 10 AM – 5 PM each day. Admission is free. Patrons of the “Taste of Italy” Wine Tasting on Friday night, September 27th will also be able to view the collection.
His public works present in the Seattle area include the exterior doors of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Seattle, the chapel at Providence Marianwood in Issaquah and a memorial display in the Bell Harbor Conference Center. Surely even more treasured are the frames, sea shells and other carvings found in the homes of the many people who sought out his work for its elegance and sensuous beauty. When the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington obtained the loan of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi painting in 1982, they commissioned Roberto to carve a Late Gothic altar and triptych in order to properly display this revered work.
