Italian Festival Brings The Joy Of All Things Italian To Seattle Center

Seattle Center Festál: Italian Festival, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 and 10 a.m.-6 pm., Sunday, Sept. 26, at Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion and Green, features art, music, food, dance and participatory activities for the entire family. The festival is the first in the 2021 Festál series to take place in person.

The Italian Festival, presented annually since 1988 to celebrate the joy of all things Italian, is the largest Italian American event in the Northwest. Entry for the two-day event is free and open to the public. Highlights include:

• The "Great Italian Chefs" Cooking Stage featuring outdoor cooking demonstrations with Seattle's best Italian chefs and the inside scope on local culinary secrets.
• Italian music all day, both days, on the Moretti Mainstage in Fisher Pavilion, along with strolling musicians in the big outdoor Wine & Beer Garden.
• Festa Grape Stomp competition with free t-shirts for each competitor.
• Festa Bocce Tournament in Seattle Center Armory Food & Events Hall including a Masters and Recreational divisions.
• Tino's Cortile presenting traditional children's activities and an Italian dog show.
• An Italian car show, "34 Years of Festa Posters" art show and a historical photo exhibit about Seattle's earliest Italians.
• Booths of Italian organizations, crafts, imported housewares and merchandise for purchase.
• Pizza, pasta, Italian sausage, salami, meatballs, focaccia, gelato, beer, wine, Prosecco, Limoncello, cannoli, espresso, Italian sodas and three Wine & Beer Gardens.

Lineup:

Saturday, Sept. 25
11 a.m.-La Messanotte
12 Noon-Seattle Mandolin Orchestra
1 p.m.-Fortissimo! w/ the Bonnie Birch Band
2 p.m.-Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band
3 p.m.-Primo Basso Band
4 p.m.-The Porcaro Group
5 p.m.-Mary Marchese & the Rave Band
6 p.m.-Mbrascatu
7 p.m.-Italian "All Stars" Dance & Show with Tony LaStella

Sunday, Sept. 26
11 a.m.-Seattle Mandolin Orchestra
12 Noon-Julie Cascioppo
1 p.m.-La Mezzanotte Trio
2 p.m.-The Rob Porcaro Group
3 p.m.-Primo Basso Band
4 p.m.-Danny Quintero
5 p.m.-Fortissimo! w/ the Bonnie Birch Band

View festival program details at: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/event-calendar/the-italian-festival.

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