Festa Italiana Seattle

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Italian Festival

Welcome to Seattle's 25th Annual - Festa Italiana actually is a week-long series of events held the last week of September and culminating in a major Italian Festival at Seattle Center. Since 1988, Festa Italiana has been celebrating the cultural roots of Italians and Italian-Americans in the Pacific Northwest by promoting the arts, the food and the culture that are uniquely Italian. (Photo by Bruce Turner)Grape Stomp Girls

Come join us in the beautiful Fisher Pavilion and the surrounding grounds and buildings at Seattle Center as once again we present the Taste of Italy™, Friday, September 23, and the 25th Annual Italian Festival, September 29 & 30, 2012. Times are 10AM - 9PM, Saturday and 10AM - 6PM, Sunday.

Our highlights include Celebrity Chef headlining a great schedule of cooking demos, two performances daily of Sicilian puppetry by the Carter Family Marionettes and a Grape Stomping competition which as to be seen to be believed! By popular demand, the Food Court & Vendor Market has been expanded as well.

As always, we will again offer a wide array of cultural and educational opportunities in which to participate and learn. Year after year, however, our main attractions continue to be food, entertainment and fun for the whole family!

Festa Calendar

Saturday, September 15
Traditional Mass in Italian
5:00 PM at Our Lady of Mt. Virgin Church
2800 S. Massachusetts St. in Seattle, 98144
Free Reception to follow.

Tuesday, September 25
The Italian Club presents
The Festa Italiana Luncheon
11:30 AM in the beautiful Garden Court
of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel
in downtown Seattle. Keynote speaker
and the Presentation
of the Gill Centioli Memorial Award
to an outstanding local Italian-American.

Friday, September 28
"Taste of Italy™" Wine Tasting
& Opening Reception
7 PM Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center.
Great wine, antipasto & live music
Saturday-Sunday, September 29 & 30
The 25th Annual Italian Festival
at the Seattle Center
Everyone is invited - Admission is FREE!

come for the food - stay for the fun

Who Will be the
Celebrity Chef for 2012?

For sixteen years now, the attendees at the Italian Festival have been learning secrets from the masters at the "Great Italian Chefs" cooking demonstrations outdoors in the piazza. Featuring nationally-known Celebrity Chefs and local chefs from Seattle's best Italian restaurants, previous luminaries on our stage have included have included Mario Batali, Giuliano Bugali, Anne Burrell, Biba Caggiano, Michael Chiarello, Rocco DiSpirito, Mary Ann Esposito, Michol Negrin, Christina Pirello, Nick Stellino, and in 2011, Rossella Rago, host of the online culinary show "Cooking with Nonna."

The organizers of Festa Italiana are scanning the schedules of the biggest names in Italian cooking to find a culinary artist to headline the "Great Italian Chefs" Cooking Stage for our 25th Annual. Bookmark this page and refer back often to see who we have!

Nick's Back! The Celebrity Chef's appearance both days will be preceded by Chef Nick Stellino whose engaging personality and expertise make "Nick Stellino Cooking with Friends" one of Public Television's most popular cooking series. Recently featured in the famous movie "Twilight," Nick has been a stalwart at Festa through the years to the delight of his many fans. His demos will be sponsored by Electrolux and C&H Sugar. Visit Nick's website.

See all the recipes for the "Great Italian Chefs" from 2011.


grape stomp

Festa's World-Famous Grape Stomp - Jump in with both feet and make wine as they used to in the old country. Put together a three-person team and compete for T-shirts and great prizes. What a Show! More Grape Stomp information.
Bocce Tournament

DeLaurenti Bocce Tournament - Now on four courts in the Seattle Center Pavilion, this Italian version of lawn bowling is always one of our most popular events. Tournament rules and Bocce information.

Festa Italiana Seattle Exhibits
Attractions and exhibits include children's activities in the Kid's Courtyard, Italian and Italian-American arts and craft, a pizza toss, an Italian Classic Vehicle show, the FOTOITALIANA Gallery Show of contemporary Italy and a chance to relive memories of Seattle's original Italian families in the Historical Photo Display. Plus pizza, pasta, prosciutto, salami, focaccia, gelato, espresso and more!

Want a Complete List of Vendors & Exhibitors?
Click Here!
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