Manchester’s largest celebration of Italian food, drink and culture, Festa Italiana, is making a return for its fifth year.
The free-to-enter, weekend-long festival is set to return to Festival Piazza, Cathedral Gardens, in Manchester city centre on bank holiday weekend, 26th – 28th August 2022.
Organised by the team behind family-run favourite Salvi’s restaurant, Festa Italiana brings together the city’s Italian community to celebrate their heritage. It takes its inspiration from the many traditional annual festivals in Italy but chucks in a healthy portion of Mancunian charm.
The event is now in its fifth year after a Covid enforced break. Its emphatic return in 2021 saw its most successful edition to date with over 38,000 happy visitors over the sunny weekend.
This year will see some much-loved Festa regulars return alongside some exciting first timers and some very special surprises. The varied programme will include workshops, demonstrations, signings and banquets from celebrity chefs and award-winning authors.
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Well-known Italian chef (and Jamie’s best mate) Gennaro Contaldo, the UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, will be headlining the chef demo tent along with appearances from Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch), and celebrity chef and restaurateur,Aldo Zilli.
Also making an appearance will be Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno, and Festa head honcho, Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco.
In addition, Carmela Sereno Hayes, the hugely popular pastaia (AKA: specialist pasta maker) and author, will be running her amazing pasta-making workshops all weekend long.
Cathedral Gardens will be occupied by a raft of Manchester’s best Italian street-food vendors and restaurateurs, while live musicians and performers will supply a proper party atmosphere to be enjoyed well into the evening.
A carefully curated selection of the leading Italian drinks brands, including Gin Mare,Luxardo and Poretti, will also be on hand with fantastic cocktails.
If you’re coming with all the family, the Festa will provide fun spaces and activities for the kids too.
With much more to be announced - including details regarding an exciting photography exhibition - check the Festa Italiana website social media channels for updates @festaitalianauk
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