Seattle Center Festál: Italian Festival, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 and 10 a.m.-6 pm., Sunday, Sept. 26, at Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion and Green, features art, music, food, dance and participatory activities for the entire family. The festival is the first in the 2021 Festál series to take place in person.
The Italian Festival, presented annually since 1988 to celebrate the joy of all things Italian, is the largest Italian American event in the Northwest. Entry for the two-day event is free and open to the public.
Highlights include:
- The “Great Italian Chefs” Cooking Stage featuring outdoor cooking demonstrations with Seattle’s best Italian chefs and the inside scope on local culinary secrets.
- Italian music all day, both days, on the Moretti Mainstage in Fisher Pavilion, along with strolling musicians in the big outdoor Wine & Beer Garden.
- Festa Grape Stomp competition with free t-shirts for each competitor.
- Festa Bocce Tournament in Seattle Center Armory Food & Events Hall including a Masters and Recreational divisions.
- Tino’s Cortile presenting traditional children’s activities and an Italian dog show.
- An Italian car show, “34 Years of Festa Posters” art show and a historical photo exhibit about Seattle’s earliest Italians.
- Booths of Italian organizations, crafts, imported housewares and merchandise for purchase.
- Pizza, pasta, Italian sausage, salami, meatballs, focaccia, gelato, beer, wine, Prosecco, Limoncello, cannoli, espresso, Italian sodas and three Wine & Beer Gardens.
Italian Festival program schedule on Moretti Mainstage
Saturday, Sept. 25
11 a.m. La Messanotte
12 p.m. Seattle Mandolin Orchestra
1 p.m. Fortissimo! w/ the Bonnie Birch Band
2 p.m. Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band
3 p.m. Primo Basso Band
4 p.m. The Porcaro Group
5 p.m. Mary Marchese & the Rave Band
6 p.m. Mbrascatu
7 p.m. Italian “All Stars” Dance & Show with Tony LaStella
Sunday, Sept. 26
11 a.m. Seattle Mandolin Orchestra
12 p.m. Julie Cascioppo
1 p.m. La Mezzanotte Trio
2 p.m The Rob Porcaro Group
3 p.m. Primo Basso Band
4 p.m. Danny Quintero
5 p.m. Fortissimo! w/ the Bonnie Birch Band
To view festival program details click here.
Seattle Center Festál highlights the culturally rich communities who help shape the character and course of our region. The series, presented virtually in 2021, provides a forum for cultural groups to come together and share their stories with the greater community. The series began in 1997 to offer a central place for festivals to invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression.
Seattle Center presents Seattle Center Festál: Italian Festival in partnership with the Festa Italiana and its volunteers. Entry to The Italian Festival is free of charge. Masks must be worn inside Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion. For more information, visit our website or call 206-684-7200.
About Seattle Center Festál:
Seattle Center Festál, Where the World Gathers, presents 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year, virtually in 2021, 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, T-Mobile, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.
