Villagi di festa italiana!
Explore the Villages / Villaggi of Festa Italiana!
Festa Italiana Food Village
A Taste of Italy!
Feel like you are taking a stroll through Little Italy with the scents of sausage-and-pepper sandos and fried dough. Visit one of our many authentic vendors and enjoy Italia in the form of crispy cannoli and cold gelato!
Current Food Vendors include:
Feast Catering & Culinary Kitchen
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Italian American Heritage Society of Birmingham
Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen
Uncle G's Pizza
Da Big Italian
Pazzo Big Slice
D&M Snow Cones of Alabama
Vecchia Pizzeria & Mercato
Graffeo Brothers Sausage
Cafe Iz, LLC
Carrabbas Italian Grill
Arnone's Italian Sausage
Slice Pizza & Brew
Luca
Dryft Coffee
Tina's Market
Tortorigi Traina Villaggio Culturale
Experience Italy!
Villaggio Cuturale, Presented by the Tortorigi & Traina Family is a meticulously crafted replica of a quaint Italian village nestled under twinkling lights and adorned with beautiful Italian imagery and a grand fountain at the heart of the village. Visitors will encounter a church, a bakery, a museum & more. There will be information about starting your ancestry research and dual citizenship.
As you stroll around the village you will encounter our Italian singers, The Suteras, a 5-member vocal group, composed of Michael Lorino, Michael Verciglio, Pat Patrick, Joe Ardovino and Tom Strickland, singing Italian songs and DooWop classics.... our accordion player, longtime Italian restaurant owner Dick Tamburro from 4:00-4:30... and our Venetian juggling jester, played by Lara Giullare di Limoni from North Carolina in a special costume by Michelle Lorino! Plus, get a selfie with Mona Lisa!!
La Musica d'Italia
The Music of Italy!
The Main Music Stage, Presented by Coca Cola Bottling of Birmingham
"The Music of Italy"
The Main Stage, Presented by Coca Cola Bottling United, will feature a diverse array of Italian musical styles which are an iconic part of the Italian Identity! Featured performances include:
The University of Montevallo Jazz Band
Plays the Italian Greats
Ross Gagliano
The Music of Italy
Encore Performance Company
Presents a Day in Italy
Ken Gilmer
The Best of Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin
Razz Ma Tazz
Featuring Frank Ranelli, Mayor Frank Brocato and Tommy Vacarella singing the Che La Luna
Festa Emcee
Niki Noto Palmer
Birmingham native Niki Palmer returns to host Festa!
TV host, reporter, actor, and emcee, Niki has worked with ESPN, SEC Network, Headline News,
Bally's, CBS Sports, PAC 12 Network, Disney, PGA, NCAA, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Chick Fil-A & more. She lives in Atlanta with her husband Michael and three children. And yes, Michael may have played in the NFL, but Niki is the state champion thanks to her suburban tennis league!
Niki's family is from Sutera, Sicily and she thinks hosting the inaugural Festa couldn't be a more perfect gig.
The Sugo Showdown
Do you think your sugo is the best in Birmingham? If you think you have what it takes then please click on the link below to join the competition.
Space in the competition is limited so please register early. All team/individual competitors are expected to arrive at the Festa with their sugo entry, in a crock pot or warming container of their choice, by 3:45 PM.
Please provide enough sugo for 5-6 people to taste.
Sugo must be served hot/warm to the judges.
You are welcome to serve your sugo with pasta or bread, but only the sauce will be judged.
Judging will begin at 4:15 PM.
Judging criteria will be emailed to all competitors upon the approval of their registration.
Winners of the cook-off will be announced on the main stage at 7:10 PM.
Teams/Individuals do not have to be present to win, but it is highly encouraged.
This Event is Sold Out
Buona Fortuna to all Contestants!!
Bocce Ball Tournament
Space is limited for tournament. Play begins at 3:05 sharp!
Bocce Ball is an Italian lawn bowling game where the object of the game is to roll a brightly colored ball closest to a smaller white ball called a Pallino. The rolled ball is measured to record how close it is to the pallino. Closest ball wins the game.
We will have two courts: one for the tournament and another for those who would simply like to try their hand at Bocce Ball.
Our tournament will be a singles tournament. Contestants must be at least 12 years old. Each match will consist of up to three games with each player rolling two balls per game. Closest ball wins the game. First to win two games is the match winner. The winner of the match advances
to the next tournament round. There is no charge to enter. Winner and runner-up will receive trophies.
This Event is Sold Out
Buona Fortuna to all Contestants!!
"Spina Stomp"
Grape Stomping
presented by Sam Spina Importing Co.
For centuries grapes were picked by hand and grape stomping was the method used to extract juice from the grapes which were then used to make wine. It is believed that grape stomping goes back as far as Rome in 200 BC. We won’t make wine from our Grape Stomp, only FUN!
Stomp competitions take place on a raised platform near the Water Tower and Small Stage of Festa on Saturday. The first heat takes place at 3:55 PM. Our Emcees will be the awesome hilarious duo of Louis Ardovino and Abe Boackle, two locals known for their flavorful commentary!
Each team consists of a Stomper and a Swabby (helper). The teams compete against their rivals to create and collect as much grape juice as possible in a messy and frenetic 3-minute stomp! Participants, be ready to jump in with both feet and make some vino! Your rules are as follows:
Stompers must use bare feet.
Only one team member may stomp at a time.
Each four-minute heat allows 3 minutes of stomping and 1 minute of juice collecting.
A five-gallon jug is used to collect the juice.
The collected juice is measured by the judges, encouraged
by the audience, of course!
This Event is Sold Out
Buona Fortuna to all Contestants!!
Festa Italiana MercatoMarketplace!
Come take a stroll through our Mercato (Market) and see the essence of Italy come alive through an array of merchandise! Explore our marketplace filled with tantalizing foods, exquisite jewelry, artisanal soaps, premium olive oils, stylish clothing, decor, accessories and much more. There is sure to be something for everyone so come ready to shop! Immerse yourself in the rich culture and diverse offerings while indulging in the finest Italian goods all around the festival!
Current Merchandise Vendors include:
The Italian Cookie Company
Elemental Designs
Walk the Way Pilgrimages
Happy Links
Cottage Industry Soap Company
De la Cruz and Beauty Studio by Elvia
Be the one by Berenice
Joyful Bird Design
Designs by gg decatur
The Fro Co
Rhondkreations
Rami Awwad
Vita Pacifica
Simply Infused Olive Oil Shop
Soaps of Healing Properties
Just Lenx
Emily's Heirloom Pound Cakes
Costa Olive Oil
American Wholesale Distributors
Two Families
Office of Global Education, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University
BottleCrafts by Linda
Lasagna Love
Annabelle’s aka The Hat Bar
Oh My Sweetie
Indigo Soul
The Herf Mobile Cigar Bar
Angel's Home Bakery
Danielle Portera Lang Fine Art
Drip Spring Hollow Farm
Sunny Shopping Italian Inspired
Hypercritic, Turin, Italy
Glenn & Associates Dream Vacations
Shearene Products & Gourmet Treats
Blind Dog Biscuit
VTG
Quest for Health Chiropractic
Marano Foods
Encore Performance Company
Villaggio dei Bambini
Children's Village!
Festa Italiana is family affair, and that means there will be plenty of entertainment for the little ones...all kinds of hands-on activities in a special area just for kids!
Activities include arts & crafts, face painting and original art painted by the children! Mr. Bill the Balloon man will be on hand with his balloon art too. There will be lawn games complete with prizes. Don't forget to take your family photo in front of our beautiful Venice backdrop. So much to do: bocce ball, a big inflatable, and some special surprises!
With all of this fantastic fun, your little ones are sure to find something to keep them happy!
St. Joseph Procession
The Annual Procession honoring St. Joseph is a cherished Italian tradition, filled with reverence and community spirit. Led by altar servers bearing the cross, a priest and deacon guides the procession, followed by the solemn paseo carrying the statue of St. Joseph, lovingly carried by The Knights of Columbus. Amidst the haunting melody of dirges and the recitation of the litany of the saints, villagers don their traditional attire, joining in the procession with heartfelt devotion. Bringing joy to the occasion, children dance along, celebrating the beloved saint and the bonds of faith and culture that unite us.
At 5:15 during the Festa, watch as our very own procession is accompanied with musicians, singers, dancers and all who wish to join in!