It's time for Italian Festivals in the Bay Area

With the arrival of summer time, each town and city in Italy celebrates tradition and culture with countless feasts throughout the peninsula, where local food and popular customs become the heart of the festivity.

 

In California and in particular in the Bay Area, the Italian heritage is honored as well with several “Feste Italiane” between the months of June and August.

 

The first one to open the celebrations was the 59th “North Beach Festival” in San Francisco’s Little Italy (June 14 and 15), considered one of the country’s original outdoor Festivals.

 

Moving from a historical festival to a newborn, last June 30th for the first time the city of Stockton had its own “Festa Italiana: Giorno della Famiglia”. The event was a success with thousand people in attendance, with Italy’s lovers coming from the surrounding cities of Linden, Escalon, Farmington, Manteca, Modesto, Lodi, Elk Grove, San Jose, Sacramento and San Francisco!

 

The inaugural festival, presented by Cortopassi Family Foundation, is soon to be San Joaquin County’s premier celebration of the Italian Culture and all things Italian.

 

While in July “Festa Italiana in San Mateo” takes place, organized by the Peninsula Italian American Social Club, and “North American Trentino Convention” in San Francisco, the following month will be really full of Italian festivities.

 

The first weekend of August (Saturday 3 and Sunday 4) is traditionally the time of “Festa Italiana in Sacramento”, arrived at its 28th annual edition thanks to the wonderful work of the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento (www.italiancenter.net/ ).

 

 Just two days after Italy’s “Ferragosto”, mark your calendar for the 95th anniversary of “Festa Coloniale Italiana” (August 17),  the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club’s incredible free heritage celebration (www.sfiacfesta.com/ ).

 

By the end of the month, also the Italian community in San José will get together for the “Italian Family Festa 2013” (August 24 and 25), hosted by the Italian American Heritage Foundation, that will take place at the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, adjacent to Little Italy San Jose at Julian and St. John Streets (www.italianfamilyfestasj.org/ ).

 

Have a wonderful summer and Buon Divertimento.