Seattle Center Hosts Italian Festival, 9/24-25

Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival offers entertainment, exploration and insights into the rich and vibrant culture of Italy, Sept. 24 - 25, Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., in Center House, Fisher Pavilion and Seattle Center Pavilion.

Stomp grapes, toss a pizza, learn to cook Italian food and compete in a bocce tournament. The Festival celebrates the joy of "All Things Italian" - from opera and popular music to pasta and wine - that honor the "old country" and recognize the contemporary contributions of this artful culture. With an attendance last year of 35,000, the Italian Festival is the largest Italian-American event in the Pacific Northwest and the largest ethnic festival at Seattle Center.

Highlights for this year include:

Free Concert and Dance: Staring Enrico Capuano and Tammuriatarock from Rome, Italy. Combining elements of rock, world music and Italian tarantella, the band is considered Italy's most exciting live concert attraction. Their many videos of outdoor performances all over Europe have made them YouTube darlings. This is the original TarantElla Rock! Admission is free, all-ages, Sunday at 4 pm.

Great Italian Chefs: Learn culinary secrets from the masters at the "Great Italian Chefs" cooking demos outdoor in the piazza; starring Rossella Rago, host of "Cooking with Nonna" on Web-TV and featuring local chefs from Seattle's best Italian restaurants. Special guest appearances by Public Television's Nick Stellino, host of "Nick Stellino's Family Kitchen."

The 21 Seattle Center Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Each event offers moving entertainment and fascinating insight into a different culture of the world.

Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival is presented by the Festa Italiana in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit www.FestaSeattle.com, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com/festal or call 206 684-7200.

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