Festa Italiana Raleigh, the largest Italian festival in the south east, celebrates Italian culture and heritage while providing financial support to local charities. Now in its fourth year, Festa Italiana Raleigh is a fun and free event for the entire family. Make your way to Raleigh on Saturday September 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the intersection of North Boylan Avenue and Tucker Street, just west of downtown Raleigh.

Festa Italiana Raleigh—the south east's largest annual celebration of Italian and American Italian culture—is free, welcoming to all, and open to the public. Proceeds beyond event costs help support two important Triangle charities: Meg's Smile Foundation, and Military Missions in Action, Inc. (MMIA).

This year will bring 2 stages for Italian entertainment, cooking demonstrations, Italian merchandise, wine, 14 food trucks, beer trucks, raffles, a large children's area, genealogists, heritage dancers, as well as select community organizations will span North Boylan Avenue from Tucker Street to West Johnson Streets in the Glenwood South Neighborhood, which will be closed to traffic. There is street parking and city parking decks available. 

Festa Italiana Raleigh was the brainchild of Mike Lombardo and retired Carolina Hurricanes’ star left winger, Bates Battaglia. Lombardo and Battaglia’s sports bistro, Lucky B’s at 609 Tucker Street is one of the Festa anchoring venues along Tucker Street, transforming the Lucky B’s patio into the Festa’s food court and the Cortile performance area.

For more information about Festa Italiana Raleigh, Inc., or its supported charities, visit www.FestaItalianaRaleigh.com, or contact either of Festa Italiana Raleigh’s volunteer co-chairs, Fran Giannuzzi at [email protected] or via 919-349-0138.