Everybody knows it’s Festa time!

IN A CITY famed for summer ethnic festivals, only one is easily identified by a single word. For thousands of devotees, FESTA means food, fireworks and four days of family entertainment.

Now in its 27th year, Festa Italiana runs from July 15-18 at Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on the Lakefront. This year, leaders of the oldest of the city’s ethnic festivals vow that the celebration will be more Italian than ever.

“Festa Italiana has grown from a small festival uniting the area’s Italian community to one of the largest Italian festivals in the country, welcoming all ethnicities to celebrate and share in our traditions,” comments Bill Jennaro, chairman of Festa’s executive committee.
Musical legends on eight stages

Among the 50 entertainment acts celebrating Italian musical traditions on eight stages are names that are familiar worldwide:
- Sinatra—Not an impersonator, but Nancy, Frank’s daughter.
- Martin—That’s Ricci, Dean Martin’s son.
- Stallone—Sly’s brother, Frank.
- Buddy Greco and Lezlie Anders.

Visitors to Festa Italiana also will be able to listen to the classic voices of Italian opera -from Caruso to Pavarotti and Verdi to Puccini - on headphones and will be treated for the first time to the sounds of a marching band from Agrigento, Sicily, which will parade through the festival daily.

Fireworks by night, circus by day
Thanks to the nationally recognized fireworks expertise of Milwaukee’s Bartolotta family and the financial support this year of US Cellular, Festa will light up the skies over the lakefront beginning at 10:15 p.m. every evening. Perhaps because of their heritage, the Bartolottas traditionally reserve some of their most spectacular displays for Festa.

Returning this year are two popular attractions that illustrate why Festa has become a true family experience. The Zoppe’ family circus, which appeared for the first time last year, returns for performances at 3 and 7 p.m. July 15; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. July 16 & 17; and 3 and 7 p.m. July 18.
Ensuring that attendees know of the 162-year old European-style tent circus at the south end of the festival grounds, clowns and other performers will stroll through the other areas of the festival between performances. Also greeting festgoers for the first time will be Wisconsinite Carlo Tuzzio, wearing Medieval armor and riding his horse, Caesar.

Returning after a one-year absence is the 34-foot-tall, stainless steel Our Lady of the New Millennium, which will greet Festa attendees at the North Gate. The religious tradition of the Italian community also is reflected in the Pompeii Sacred Art Exhibit and vintage photo collection, which includes relics from local churches and artifacts dating back more than a century.

At the main gate, where a replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David has traditionally greeted visitors, Festa has added a second significant landmark, a 22-foot-long replica of the famed Trevi Fountain. Behind these two landmarks will be Festa’s popular Bocce grounds, where visitors can join in as well as observe this popular Italian leisure activity.

PBS chef Stellino here
Festa’s more than 40 food vendors offer delicacies from the best of the Milwaukee area’s Italian restaurants and are the reason the Food Network named the festival “one of America’s Top Five Amazing Celebrations.” Appearing for the first time this year at Festa’s Cucina Showcase will be chef Nick Stellino of Palermo, Italy, host of PBS’ highest-rated cooking show, “Nick Stellino’s Family Kitchen.” Chef Stellino and other experts will provide daily demonstrations and discuss trends, techniques, appliances, cooking tips and authentic recipes.

Sunday, the final day of the festival, will begin with the traditional processional through the festival grounds to an 11 a.m. high Mass at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Festa Italiana will be open from 2 p.m. - midnight, Thursday, July 15, and 11:30 a.m.- midnight July 16, 17 & 18. General admission is $10 at the gate and $9 in advance. A raffle ticket will be included with every advance ticket. Raffle tickets also will be sold during the festival; one for $2 and three for $5. Grand prize of this year’s raffle is a Saturn Vue or $15,000, compliments of Boucher Automotive Group. Second prize is a Vespa ET2 Scooter from Reina International Motor Cars and third prize is a two-karat yellow gold diamond cluster ring from Glorioso Gold Imports. Fourth prize is airfare for two, courtesy of Midwest Airlines. Festa will continue to offer several free and reduced admission specials during its four-day run. For more information, call 414-223-2808 or 414-223-2193. Updates and ticket information may also be obtained by visiting www.festaitaliana.com.