The Italian Festival Brings Art, Music, Food and Fun to Seattle Center This Weekend

Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival features family fun and Italian indulgences, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., this weekend, Sept. 26 - 27, in Seattle Center Armory, Fisher Pavilion, and Seattle Center Pavilion. Stomp grapes, toss a pizza, learn to cook Italian food, compete in a bocce tournament and celebrate the joy of "all things Italian," from opera and popular music to pasta and wine.

The festival celebrates 28 years at Seattle Center with a performance by Mbrascatu, a nationally recognized indie "tarantella rock" band from Portland, Ore. (mbrascatu.com/music-videos). Other musical highlights include performances by the Seattle Mandolin Orchestra, Julie Cascioppo, Danny Quintero, Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band, Italian Choir of British Columbia and The Porcaro Group. Students from Cinquegranelli Montessori open the festival with song and dance, continuing a 25-year tradition.

Cooking demonstrations run every hour throughout the weekend on the Great Italian Chefs stage. Brian Gojdics of Tutta Bella, Frank Isernio of Isernio's Sausage, Luigi DeNunzio of Al Boccalino and Café Bengodi and Enza Sorrentino of Mondello are among the local chefs presenting. Special guest Nick Stellino, host of "Cooking with Nick Stellino" on KCTS 9, leads two cooking demonstrations at 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (www.nickstellino.com). A marketplace serves pizza, pasta, Italian sausage, salami, meatballs, focaccia, espresso and gelato. Italian beer and wine are also offered.

The "Taste of Italy" wine tasting and reception begins Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Armory. Tickets for the 21+ event are $25 per person in advance or $30 per person at the door. Each ticket includes a souvenir wineglass and five two-ounce wine pours. Sparkling water, bread, Italian antipasti and crudités accompany the tasting. Bottles and cases of wine are available for purchase and delivery.

Children's activities include puppy parades featuring Italian breeds, pizza tossing, tile painting, face painting and a bouncy castle. The Carter Family Marionettes from the Northwest Puppet Center present "Columbina's Birthday," a puppet show featuring Arlecchino and other Commedia dell'Arte characters at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday in Seattle Center Pavilion.

Other festival attractions include a display of classic Italian cars, scooters and motorcycles, a grape stomping competition, bocce tournaments, a juried art show and an exhibition of historical photographs.

In 2015, Seattle Center Festál explores the "art of culture" in 23 celebrations on weekends throughout the year. The events, organized by ethnic/cultural organizations in partnership with Seattle Center, make use of indoor and outdoor spaces on the grounds and offer wide-ranging entertainment, food, visual displays and exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. The annual series forms the bedrock of public programming at Seattle Center, captivating and enlightening festival-goers as they experience the distinct cultures that influence the character and course of our broader community.

Seattle Center Festál is a program of Seattle Center Productions. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on The Italian Festival and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.

Seattle Center Festál 2015 explores the art of culture on weekends throughout the year. The festivals highlight the diverse cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region with traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops, marketplaces and more. This collection of 23 cultural events is produced with the generous support of Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Boeing, RealNetworks and 4Culture. Additional support is provided by the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.