Festa Italiana, the free-to-enter weekend-long festival celebrating Italian food, drink and culture is returning to Festival Piazza, Cathedral Gardens on bank holiday weekend, 27th – 29th August.
The Festa celebrates Manchester’s Italian community and heritage, drawing huge inspiration from the traditional festivals found all over Italy, but with an added touch of Mancunian flavour. This year’s full weekend programme of events is dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy authentic Italian food and drink, cooking masterclasses, banquets, movies and live music.
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Here’s what’s on -
Banquet – Festa Marquee
When - Saturday 28th August
In partnership with Parmigiano Reggiano, legendary Italian restaurateurs, authors and UK TV favourites Gennaro Contaldo (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast), and Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch), will be joining Maurizio Cecco, Salvi’s and Fran Scafuri, Tre Ciccio, in the kitchen, talking guests through the menu and answering questions for the duration. (Read more about that HERE)
Banquet tickets available here
Masterclasses – Festa Marquee
When - Friday 27th August
There will be a series of family masterclasses for those attending with children. At 1:30pm Sienna Cecco, Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco’s 12-year-old daughter, a talented chef with her own YouTube channel and TV appearances under her belt, will be hosting a cooking demo to teach kids how to make simple dishes with ease, and at 2:30pm, Julia Martinelli from Pasta Factory will deliver a fun kids pasta masterclass.
When - Saturday 28th August
Sienna Cecco will be back at 12:30pm with another family masterclass. Following Sienna, there will be back-to-back workshops and book signings hosted by celebrity chefs and award-winning authors: Gennaro Contaldo, UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast) at 1:30pm, and Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch) at 2:30pm.
When - Sunday 29th August
Gennaro Contaldo will be back at 12:30pm with another Parmigiano Reggiano masterclass and book signing, and at 1:30pm, Fran Scafuri from Tre Ciccio in Altrincham will be taking guests through a very special recipe. At 2:30pm, celebrity chef and award-winning restaurateur, Aldo Zilli (The One Show, This Morning, Celebrity Masterchef) will be hosting a masterclass and book signing.
Authentic Italian Food
Throughout the weekend, returning Festa favourites Café Cannoli will be selling delicious cannoli made using authentic ingredients imported directly from Sicily. Local lads Paul and Mike from I Knead Pizza will be bringing their wood fired oven along to serve up their highly acclaimed Neopolitan pizza, while NQ Sicilian will be serving artisan gelato, Coppa Della Casa, Brioche Gelato and Brioche Col Tuppo.
Manchester’s very own Pasta Factory, with family and culinary roots in Puglia, will be offering simple, authentic fresh pasta, paired with handmade sauces, lovingly prepared using seasonal produce. Mattia and his team from Paradiso Authentic Italian will be bringing its range of carefully crafted tiramisú to the Festa - the hero of Italian desserts will be prepared by using only the freshest of ingredients.
Long-standing Festa friends Proove will be joining the line-up with their delicious Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, whilst Lucky Mama’s will be making their debut, serving extruded pasta with fresh homemade sauces and their signature savoury/sweet dough balls.
The driving force behind Festa Italiana, family run Salvi’s, will be there with its popular Festival Pizza Fritta, while Salvi's Coffee Bar will serve Italian coffees, espressos, iced coffees served up with fresh Italian cakes
T’arricrii will bring the essence of Sicily to the Festa Piazza arancini and Fritto Misto, and Tre Ciccio will be setting up a traditional Italian Deli stall selling Italian produce including pasta, meats, cheeses, sauces and olive oils.
Bars
Visitors can say ‘Ciao’ to Crodino, the sophisticated, sparkling and surprisingly non-alcoholic Italian Aperitivo enjoyed in piazzas across Italy since 1965. Festival-goers can even try their first Crodino for free.
Birrificio Angelo Poretti will also be bringing its craft Italian beers served from its Piageo Bar.
The Peroni Showcase Bar will be serving Peroni all weekend while the Main Festival Bar will be bringing all of the Italian classics, including Aperol Spritz, the Festa's signature cocktail Limoncello Spritz in partnership with, official Festa brand partner, Limonce, Italian craft beers, Prosecco, Italian wine, Negronis, Gin & Tonic and San Pellegrino soft drinks.
Music
This year Compagnia Sole Luna will be flying over from Naples and performing each day, bringing traditional folk music revisited in a folk-rock style from southern Italy, while DJs will be spinning records each night.
Movies
This year the brew-based showstoppers at Peroni will be popping up their portable cinema throughout the weekend, complete with bean bags, deck chairs, popcorn, Peroni on tap and themed classic movie screenings of Cinema Paradiso, Romeo and Juliet and La Dolce Vita.
The cinema will be in the peaceful tree lined setting of Cathedral Gardens next to a Peroni bar. Festa goers can just turn up, take a seat, relax and wait for the movie to start while Peroni ushers will serve popcorn ahead of each screening.
Screening times Fri-Sun:
12pm: Romeo and Juliet
2.30pm: Cinema Paradiso
5pm: La Dolce Vita
For more info about Manchester Festa Italiana visit: festaitalianauk.com
@festaitalianauk