Embrace the cultures of the Pacific Northwest and cultivate love, peace and understanding of the communities that make up our region. Join us for Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28 and 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 29. The Italian Festival offers a spotlight on the inventive nation with food and wine, music and musings – and spirit that is uniquely Italian.
Since 1988, Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival has been celebrating the cultural roots of Italians and Italian Americans in the Pacific Northwest by promoting arts, food and culture. This year’s event has no shortage of activities, demonstrations and performances for the whole family.
Highlights include the return of Galbani’s celebrity Chef Marco Sciortino from Marco’s in Buffalo, New York as the headliner of the cooking demonstrations. The ever-popular Grape Stomping competition gives teams of three the chance to stomp and collect the juice of 20 pounds of grapes; whichever team collects the most juice in four minutes is declared the winner!
For the younger audience, the local opera troupe, Spotlight Repertory NW, will perform their newly developed show “Opera Magic – Stories in Song.” Two performances will happen each day of the festival, aimed to introduce kids to the art of opera.
A special memorial collection of works has been added to “Le Arti della Festa Italiana” Art Exhibit at the Italian Festival this year in honor of Roberto Mario Tacchi whose elegant woodcarvings adorn Seattle public spaces and personal collections and who passed away May 15, 2019 at the age of 80. Born in Florence Italy, Roberto learned his craft from his father, becoming the seventh generation of woodcarvers in the Tacchi family.
Other exhibits include a historical photo display, the Italian Car Show and back by popular demand, the Italian Breeds Dog Show as featured on New Day Northwest.
For full schedule visit https://festaseattle.com/ and RSVP to the Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/2361052860844439/
Newly added this year is the “Alaska Airlines Fly Away Giveaway.” Guests who obtain a passport inside Seattle Center Armory or by downloading online can collect stamps by attending festivals to be entered to win round-trip air travel for two to the Alaska Airlines destination of their choice. Each stamp is an entry to win; the more Festál events attended and stamps collected, the higher the odds of winning! More information at http://seattlecenter.com/festal.
Seattle Center Festál highlights the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, the festivals took place earlier in their own ethnic communities. Now, Seattle Center serves as a central place, where festivals invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. This year’s theme, “Love, Peace and Understanding,” is woven throughout 24 free, ethnic cultural festivals. In a time of divisive national rhetoric, Festál celebrates our shared humanity to build connections, tear down stereotypes and create trust.
Seattle Center Festál: The Italian Festival is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with Festa Italiana Seattle. Admission is free of charge. For more information on this festival, visit https://festaseattle.com/, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.
About Seattle Center Festál
This illuminating series of 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Lyft, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.
