The 20th annual presentation of a community festival inaugurated in 1988 to celebrate the joy of "All Things Italian," Festa Italiana is a week-long series of events held in late September and culminating in a major Italian Festival at Seattle Center. Festa Italiana events focus on the cultural roots and the history of Italians in America-especially the Northwest-and celebrate the arts, the food and the spirit that is uniquely Italian.

For a complete schedule of Italian Festival Activities >>> Click Here

The complete calendar of Festa Italiana 2008 is as follows:

Sunday, September 21 - Mass in Italian at Mt. Virgin Church.
Traditional Catholic Mass at Seattle's original Italian Mission church. Celebrant will be the The Most Reverend Alexander J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle. Light refreshments served in the church hall following. 11:00 AM at 1531 Bradner Place South in Seattle.

Tuesday, September 23 - Festa Italiana Luncheon at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel.
A gathering of Seattle's Italian-American business community to be held in the beautiful Garden Court of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle. The Keynote Speaker will be Joe Cerrell, Jr., Director of Global Health Advocacy for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and there will be a presentation of the Gill Centioli Memorial Award to an outstanding local Italian-American. Sponsored by the Italian Club of Seattle. Tickets including lunch are $55.00 per person. For more details and to make reservations, call (425) 646-6630, Or send a check for $55 per person to: Brian DiJulio, 10657 NE 2nd St. Bellevue, WA 98004.

Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28 - The Italian Festival.
The culmination of Festa Italiana and the largest ethnic festival at Seattle Center, the Italian Festival features food, music, art, dance and participatory activities for the entire family. There's "The Great Italian Chefs" cooking demonstrations, the Bolla Grape Stomp, the DeLaurenti Bocce Tournament, an Italian film festival, children's activities, an historical photo collection, a contemporary exhibit of photos of Italy, an Italian Classic Vehicle Show, and three stages with Free Entertainment.

Special Attraction: A free all-ages concert & dance at 7 PM on Saturday, September 27th starring Ray Massa's Eurorhythms!

Special Added Attraction - Seattle Opera presents a Live Preview of their Italian Operas in the 2008 season featuring live vocalists and a commentary by Jonathan Dean. 4 PM, Saturday in the Seattle Center Pavilion.