In Italian “festa” simply translates as “festival.” But in actuality an Italian festa is so much more. Within the culture it celebrates the life of a Christian saint. The faithful joyfully attend Mass. Homes and plazas sport decorations. Traditional foods, with recipes handed down for generations, comfort the body as well as the soul. Small wonder we derive the words “feast” and “festival” from the same Latin source. Add music and dancing, and the celebration is complete.

The Folsom Lake Symphony closes out the 2016-17 season with its annual “pops” concert the weekend of June 3-4. This year the theme is Festa Italiana. And what a musical feast this is. Expect traditional symphonic homages to the land where all roads lead to Roma, plus some amazing vocal talent. This will be a true, multi-course feast for the ear, the eye and the heart.