ABOUT FESTA

Festa Italiana started in the spring of 1997 and is an annual multi-day event that benefits The Italian Club of Tampa (L'Unione Italiana) Restoration Fund. What started as just a one day celebration now spans over the course of four days and concludes with the main Festa Italiana event on the final day. Event attendees will experience the finest in live entertainment, family activities, wine and the Tampa Bay area's restaurants and cuisine.

April 14 - Thursday: Festa Italiana kicks off with Wines of Italy, a unique tasting experience where guests will sample over 70 wines from Italy while enjoying Italian antipasti and desserts. The silent auction offers an opportunity to win fabulous prizes and gift packages.

April 15 - Friday: Celebrate fabulous Italian cinema with Festa Italiana at Cinema Italiano where guests will experience award winning films and documentaries while enjoying espresso and dolci.

April 16 - Saturday: Spend a day with your entire family and enjoy such entertaining activities as the annual Bocce Ball Invitational Tournament, the Homemade Vino Competition, the Italian Idol singing competition and shopping the Ybor Saturday Fresh Market.

April 17 - Sunday: Festa Italiana on Sunday is the pinnacle of the annual Festa Italiana celebration that is a gathering of authentic tastes, sights and sounds straight from Italy. Attendees will enjoy the finest cuisines from over thirty of the Tampa Bay area’s top restaurants and caterers. The Main Stage will offer some of the world’s greatest entertainers, singers and dancers. Festa Italiana kicks off with Sunday Mass Procession followed by food, entertainment, cooking competitions and classes, grape stomping along with a children’s area and a cultural and genealogy area.

Pictured below is a street scene of the Festa Italiana in Tampa (Ybor City section)