Festa Italiana celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2007.
Can’t afford to make the trip to Italy this year? How about attending the country’s largest Italian-American festival instead? Festa Italiana celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2007. Festa, as Milwaukee locals commonly call it, is arguably one of the favorite ethnic festivals the city has to offer, featuring Italian food, music, and fireworks held on the Summerfest Grounds along Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront.
Nightly Fireworks
- Festa has become known for its awesome pyrotechnics shows presented each night of the festival by Bartolotta Fireworks. Good seats are available throughout the festival for “Abbondanza in the Sky,” as the fireworks are displayed over the lakefront beginning at 10:15 p.m. each evening.
Italian Cuisine
- If you like Italian food, there’s no better place than Festa to sample Italian and Sicilian cuisine. Over forty restaurants are present on the Festa grounds to tempt you from one end of the grounds to the other.
Entertainment
- There truly is something for everyone when it comes to entertainment and activities. From stage performances to cooking demonstrations, you don’t have to search very far to get in the Italian spirit. On Friday, July 20th, Dennis De Young will rock the Butera/Caputo Windy City Stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free to this performance with purchase of a gate ticket. Other attractions at this year’s Festa include accordion-master Dick Contino, Chefs Nick Stellino and Richard Lomardi, San Gemini Flag Throwers, ballroom and tap dancing, a vintage photo exhibit, public bocce, and display booths with work from several Italian fine artists. As the Festa Italiana folks say, “Festa is a party and everyone is welcome!”
Festa Italiana Details:
- Dates: July 19-22, 2007
- Hours: 11:30 a.m. to Midnight
- Admission: $10 in advance or $12 at the gate
Ticket specials:
Multiple Days:
- In celebration of Festa’s 30th year they are offering free admission to anyone born in 1977.
- Bring a register receipt for any four DaVinci Pasta products, purchased at Pick 'n Save or Copps Food Stores, to the Main Gate for free admission to the grounds. (Thurs. 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sun. all day.)
- Bring the entire UPC side panel from one box of Palermo's Prima Thin Pizza to the Main Gate for free admission to the grounds. Palermo Pizza, the Official Pizza of Festa Italiana. (Thurs. 2 p.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. & Sun. all day.)
Thursday, July 19th:
- VIP Day for People With Disabilities, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. People with disabilities, along with their caregivers, receive free admission while the grounds are closed to the general public.
- Potowatomi Day, 2-7 p.m. Show your Fire Keeper's Club card at the Main Gate for free admission.
Friday, July 20th:
- Everyone is welcome to enjoy Festa for free from 11:30 am to 1 p.m.
Sunday, July 22nd:
- Illinois Day, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Anyone with a valid Illinois driver's license will receive free admission.
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel PressCard Day, 2-4 p.m. Show your PressCard at the Main Gate for free admission.
The copyright of the article Festa Italiana in Wisconsin Travel is owned by Cherie Burbach. Permission to republish Festa Italiana must be granted by the author in writing.
