If you're into Italian food, listen up, as the UK’s biggest Italian festival will be returning to Manchester this weekend, bringing with it a proper good offering of food and drink inspired one of the world’s most loved cuisines.
Set to take place from Friday 23rd August through to Sunday 25th August, Festa Italiana is all about bringing together Manchester’s Italian community while transforming Cathedral Gardens into a buzzing festival piazza that feels more like Napoli than Manchester.
Festa Italiana, now in it's 7th edition, will include an incredible opening ceremony by Fornovo Taro flag wavers Ducato di Parma, a bustling piccolo mercato (mini market) selling authentic Italian and local produce, a volcanic lemonade experience straight from Naples, and cooking class with a wild party twist Viva la Cucina.
The festival, which is completely free to enter by the way, is the brainchild of Neapolitan chef and founder of Salvi’s, Maurizio Cecco, and will also include live cooking masterclasses hosted by Gennaro Contaldo (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast), Great British Bake Off 2021 winner, author, and proud Britalian, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Sardinian chef and social media legend Francesco Mattana (head teaching chef at Jamie Oliver’s Cookery School plus many more), as well as Maurizio himself who will be bringing back his big pan to please the crowds following its popular debut last year.
Maurizio says: "You know we don’t stop moving, don’t you?! This is Manchester and we like to keep things fresh. We’ve ripped up the rule book this year and we’re bringing you all kinds of new experiences as part of the massive Festa Italiana programme.
"Naples is where I am from but Manchester is my home and it is my mission to keep evolving and surprising my people here with beautiful secrets and hidden gems from Italy. The Festa is going from strength to strength and we want it to feel like a little holiday right on your doorstep, so come along and let us help you take a break from the real world."
Find out more here.