Are you interested in being a vendor at our Festa Italiana? Please reach out through our form here https://lilaa.org/contact/
FESTA ITALIANA 2024 IS ALMOST HERE!
When: Saturday October 5, 2024, from 11 am to 10 pm
Where: 6th Street in Downtown San Pedro
Cost: Free Entry! Food and merchandise will be available for purchase
What to expect: Authentic Italian Food, Live Entertainment, Raffles, Merchandise and so many surprises and experiences!
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters who made Festa Italiana 2024 possible!
In particular, thanks to LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Councilmember Tim McOsker of the 15th Council District, Safe and Clean and Black Knight Patrol. We are thankful for your support and commitment. GRAZIE!
Do not miss the opportunity to be part of this authentic Italian Street Festival in the heart of San Pedro’s Little Italy!
The Festa Italiana is a FREE, family-friendly event organized by the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association in collaboration with Council District # 15 to kick off Italian-American Heritage Month and showcase the best that Italian culture has to offer.
Come join us for an afternoon of fun and entertainment surrounded by some amazing food, music and merchandise vendors.
Come as a stranger, leave as a member of our much-cherished Italian-American Family!
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FESTA ITALIANA 2024
FAQ:
Q: Where exactly in Downtown San Pedro will the Festa be located?
A: Festa Italiana will take place on the Little Italy District in 6th Street between South Palos Verdes St and South Centre St.
Q: I need a location to input into Google Maps/Waze/etc
A: 222 W 6th Street, San Pedro Ca 90731
Q: Will parking be available?
A: Street Parking will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Public Parking is open at Topaz Building Garage on Centre Street between 5th and 6th. – Entrance next to Buono’s Pizzeria Parking
Rates: $20.00 flat rate fee per vehicle -$2.00 per hour
Their hours of operation on Saturdays are 10:30 am to midnight
The street parking is on a first-come first-serve basis. Meter parking $.50 per half hour Saturday before 6pm.
Q: Who is being honored at Festa Italiana this year?
A: This year’s honorees are the ICF- Italian Catholic Federation on occasion of their 100th anniversary; Paul Bodnar of Ramona Bakery; Samantha Cortese/ KTLA; JD Food and Terry Antonelli of l’Opera Restaurant.
Q: At what time will the program begin?
A: Festa Italiana will start at 11am.
The LIVE ENTERTAINMENT program will begin 12:45 with a performance by visiting Italian cover band from Italy Maledeo Live Show.
The opening ceremony will start promptly at 2:45pm at the Main Stage with the Italian and American National Anthems performed by the singers of Francesca Taylor’s Opera Italia LA:
Oliver Chan, Music Director
Victor Robledo, Tenor
Andrea Church, Soprano
Marina Beeson, Soprano
Mike Sullivan, Baritone
Followed by a flyover at 3PM performed by the Torrance-based Tiger Squadron with four historical aircrafts. Please look at up at the sky!
Q: Where can I find the entertainment lineup and the performance times?
A: We are excited to share that Angelo Di Leva, Dan Russo, Mimmo Bologna, Maledeo Live Show and Opera Italia LA will be performing at our Festa Italiana.
Q: What food vendors will be at the Festa Italiana?
A: This year’s Festa Italiana will be featuring over 20 food vendors, ranging from some renowned restaurants specialized in regional cuisine (Carasau, Palmina by Puglia, Puglia Italian Restaurant by the winner of the TV show Chopped, the bubbling Chef Antonello Zito, Call Me Suppli’, to name a few) to some amazing pizza (Ciao Bella, Buono’s, Lo Zio Pizza Mobile), to some beloved local staples (Trani’s Dockside Station and the San Pedro Fish Market with their famous calamari salad). Impastiamo will be hosting several cooking demos and LA LA Lasagna will have their delicious, authentic lasagna.
Italian Street Bites will be serving their delicious meatballs and homemade sausage.
Those with a sweet tooth cannot miss a visit to Gelato and Angels as well as La Befana Bakery with their adorable sweet cookie creations and Rhino’s glazed almonds whose aroma promised to attract crowds from far and wide. Cosi’ Dolci will have some great cookies while the Cannoli booth will showcase the handmade cannolis prepared by our beloved nonnas.
Sfingoli will prepare their scrumptious sfingi and The Godmother will have cassata siciliana and tiramisu. Nima will be serving some amazing sfogliatelle napoletane!
Coffee will be available at Lattes on location and Serratti’s Coffee.
Q: What merchandise vendors will be at the Festa Italiana?
We are excited to share that Rita’s of California will return to our Festa with their wide array of Italian-themed articles as well as Olivia Grace’s Jewelry’s creations and Bartolomeo Collection.
In addition to that, there will be booths from some key partners such as The Newport Beach Film Festival- Italian Spotlight, the Juventus Official Fan Club Hollywood, the Windchimes Lady, La Lotteria Italiana and many more.
Last but not least, Italian Frame will bring an official/authorized Botticelli reproduction from Uffizi Gallery.
Q: Is the entire Festa Italiana Free?
A: Entrance and Entertainment are 100% free.
Food and merchandise will be available for purchase. Menu item prices will vary.
All vendors will be donating a percentage of their sales to the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA) to further our mission of promoting culture and community through events, partnerships and advocacy.
Q: Will you have any kids activities at Festa Italiana?
A: Yes! We will have some children games and photo/experiences.
Q: Will you have any drinks at Festa Italiana?
A: Our beer garden will be selling some wine, beer and NIO cocktails. Make sure you stop by and blow our bartender John Bagakis a kiss!
Q: Will there be any of the Italian Heritage Dodgers hats available at Festa Italiana?
A: Yes!! Hats are available with a $30 donation at all ticket booths.
Have a question not mentioned above? Please email us at [email protected]
2024 Live Entertainment Lineup
10:45 AM – 12:30 PM Italian music – DJ Angelo Di Leva
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Guest band from Italy- Maledeo Live Show
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Vendor Shot out
2:00 PM – 2:50 PM: Italian music – DJ Angelo Di Leva
2:50 PM – 3:00 PM The Ceremony begins. Everyone Stand Up for the Italian and American National Anthems performed by Opera Italia LA kindly sponsored by Francesca Taylor: Oliver Chan (Music Director), Victor Robledo, (Tenor) Andrea Church (Soprano), Marina Beeson (Soprano) Mike Sullivan (Baritone)
3:00 PM Flyover by famous Tiger Squadron with 4 historical aircrafts
3:05 PM LILAA President Mario Amalfitano introduces Councilman Tim McOsker, largest Italian-American community in California
3:10 PM Consul General Raffaella Valentini greets the crowd
3:15 PM- 3:45 PM Proclamations and Certificates of Recognition to Honorees: ICF- Italian Catholic Federation Receives Award for their 100th anniversary; Paul Bodnar – Ramona Bakery; Terry Antonelli of l’Opera Restaurant
3:50 PM – 4:25 PM Opera Italia LA Performance featuring the most famous operatic arias
4:25 PM – 5:00 PM Angelo Di Leva will do some special vendor shout outs- inviting some on stage
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Dan Russo- Italian Crooner
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Mimmo Bologna ( AKA Italian Elvis Performs ) Plug and Play
6:30 PM – 6:40 PM Angelo Di Leva will do some special vendor shout outs
6:40 PM – 7:30 PM Guest band from Italy- Maledeo Live Show
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Italian music – DJ Angelo Di Leva
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM Guest band from Italy- Maledeo Live Show
9:30 PM Last call for food and beer garden sales – no cooking after this point
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM Guest band from Italy- Maledeo Live Show
10:00 PM Event ends – Tear Down Begins
