Italian heritage will take center stage in southwestern Ohio when the Italian Fall Festa returns to Kettering from September 11 through September 13, 2026. The three-day celebration will be held at Bella Villa Hall and its spacious grounds, 2625 County Line Road, in Kettering, near Dayton.
Organized by the John Pirelli Lodge #1633 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the Fall Festa has become a long-running gathering for the region’s Italian American community. The 2026 edition celebrates 49 years of Italian tradition, combining food, entertainment, family activities and opportunities to explore Italian ancestry.
Food is one of the festival’s main attractions. Lodge members and volunteers prepare a broad selection of Italian and Italian American favorites, including calzones, cannoli, sfingi, meatball sandwiches, Italian beef, muffaletta, pizza, pasta e fagioli, gelato, Italian ice, homemade cakes and cookies. Friday also features a Lunch-to-Go program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Entertainment throughout the weekend includes live performances by Ray Massa, Aaron Caruso and Happy Days. Visitors can also watch bocce, shop for Italian-themed merchandise and stop at the Heritage Booth, where families can explore genealogy and place a pin on a map of Italy identifying their ancestral hometown. Sunday begins with the Meatball Madness 5K Run/Walk.
The Festa opens Friday, September 11, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., continues Saturday from noon to 11 p.m., and concludes Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Admission is free, as are parking and continuous shuttle service from the Reynolds & Reynolds parking lot.
More than a community festival, the Italian Fall Festa represents the enduring presence of Italian culture in Ohio – keeping traditions alive through music, recipes, bocce, genealogy and the shared experience of Italian American identity.
