Little Italy FESTA!
Sunday, October 13, 2013 from 10:00am to 6:00pm
In 1994, a dream came to fruition. In the month of October, 19 years ago, the Little Italy community opened its streets to San Diego residents, and welcomed visitors from all over. The Little Italy Association (LIA) and a small group of community members organized a festival that celebrated Italian culture not only in the entertainment provided, on the one stage, but the types of vendors that were allowed to display their wares along India Street.
Now, the Little Italy Festa is the largest Italian American festival on the West Coast. Hip and Historic Little Italy welcomes over 120,000 attendees with the tantalizing sights, sounds and aromas of Italian culture. A full palette of Italian cuisine is complemented by traditional and modern Italian music, arts and crafts as well as a tribute to San Diego’s rich Italian American heritage.
Festa highlights include:
- Italian food served al fresco throughout the neighborhood reflecting a wide variety of specialties;
- Music on 3 stages featuring the familiar and the new;
- Cooking demonstrations/contests;
- Gesso Italiano (Italian Chalk) chalk art painting before your eyes;
- Chalk art for kids;
- Kids Fun Zone with inflatables, face painting, balloon art;
- Italian Motor Sports Exhibit featuring cars and motorbikes;
- Stickball Exhibition Game;
- Bocce Ball Tournament and more!
Alongside the growth of this fall community event, the Little Italy neighborhood has embraced the charm of our community and welcomed the fresh urban mixed-use developments that have sprouted up throughout Little Italy’s 48 square blocks.
Through the growth and recognition of San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, we have expanded our calendar of event offerings with an array of high quality festivals and celebrations . These events were not only established to bring visitors to Little Italy, but to activate the neighborhood and to entertain more than 2400 residents and property owners that call Little Italy home.
The LIA Board of Directors and staff work year-round to bring you such events as: the Little Italy Mercato (Farmers’ Market), Carnevale, Mission Federal ArtWalk, the Annual State of the Neighborhood Dinner Reception, the Bulls of St. Agata Charge Little Italy (Lamborghini Show), Trick-or-Treat on India Street, a Taste of Little Italy, the Holiday Tree Lighting and many more pop-up events throughout the year.
Ciao!
Steven J. Galasso
President
Little Italy Association of San Diego
Pictures from FESTA! 2012
Click here to see the photos from the 2012 Little Italy FESTA!
Sponsors of FESTA! 2012
Click here to see our sponsors of 2012 Little Italy FESTA!
