Welcome to Seattle’s 38th Annual Festa Italiana! Festa Italiana is an all-volunteer community organization that produces an annual series of events the last week of September, culminating in a FREE Italian Festival open to everyone. Since 1988, we have 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.

And this year, the Italian Festival will again be at Seattle Center and we plan to be bigger and better than ever. So as always, thanks to our sponsors, vendors, chefs and entertainers, and especially to our volunteers, and YOU, our beloved patrons and supporters!

Coming back by Popular Demand
Anthony “Nino” Lane Band
For the 3rd year in a row, our Headliner will be a rockin’ 6-piece from Salinas, CA called the Anthony “Nino” Lane Band covering all your Italian favorites through the decades with an emphasis on danceability! Their lineup features two native Italian singers, two Latino & Latina vocalists, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, saxophone and violin! They will be doing three shows for us over the weekend, so watch for those, especially on Saturday & Sunday evenings when they play extended sets!

The Return of the RigaTones!
For the past 20 years, the Beer & Wine Garden at Festa was rockin’ each day at 4 PM to the sounds of “The RigaTones,” the dynamic duo of Lenny Luzzi and Tom Falcone leading raucous Italian sing-a-longs with an enraptured audience. Two years ago, things were more subdued because Tom had retired from playing, and Lenny had moved to Nashville to further his music career. Well, hold onto your wine bottles, because this year, we are once again thrilled to announce “The RigaTones are back!!!” Lenny has reformed the duo with Clayton Patterson, his former guitarist with the Primo Basso Band, and they’ve been doing shows in Nashville for two years now so they’re ready to return and tear the place apart! As always, no admission charge but you must be 21/over and show ID. Ci vediamo alla Prima Notte Party!

La Cucina Galbani Cooking Stage
Over the years we have had Live Cooking Demos from chefs representing such local restaurants as: Café Juanita, Tulio, il Fornaio, Il Terrazzo Carmine, Café Bengodi, Serefina, Assaggio, etc. Some of their recipes can be found in our online Recipe Collection. At the same time, we have featured such national culinary luminaries as Mario Batali, Giuliano Bugali, Anne Burrell, Biba Caggiano, Michael Chiarello, Rocco DiSpirito, Mary Ann Esposito, Christina Pirello, Rosella Rago and Nick Stellino. During 2020 we solicited “virtual” cooking demos, from local chefs and celebrities alike, for you to enjoy at home as you cook along! Just visit the Great Italian Chef Page to see demos from local chefs such as Brad Inserra and Frank Isernio to national stars like Rossella Rago.

Tutta Bella 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 great prizes with a free T-shirt given to each competitor. Fun to watch, just don’t sit in the front row!

Oberto Bocce Tournament
Moving back to the main floor of the Armory, this Italian version of lawn bowling is one of our most popular events. Featuring a Masters division for professionals and a Recreational division for occasional players, the bocce tournament is fascinating to watch and fun to play!

Tino’s Cortile
Now in the Armory, featuring our traditional Children’s Activities such as the Tutta Bella Pizza Toss three times a day plus decorate Venetian masks at the “hands-on” Kids Arts and Crafts booth, and get yourself decorated by Italian face painter Reese Scales for a small fee.