An estimated 75,000 participants attended the 20th Annual San Diego Sicilian Festival in Little Italy on Sunday, May 19. The event is considered to be the largest Sicilian-American festival in the United States.
The weather was beautiful with clear blue skies as the streets were lit up with sun, color, food, games for kids, street vendors, culture, beer and wine garden, and with four sound stages, there was music for everyone. The Three Sicilian Tenors from New York City highlighted this year’s event.
There were many Italian-American organizations in attendance, in addition to the cultural pavilion helping support and promote the culture and heritage with live multimedia presentations and demonstrations as well as historical photographs presented by Convivio Society.
Roman Holiday Ensemble blazed the way with traditional Sicilian and Italian music complete with costume as they have for the past twenty years and have not missed a beat since inception of the festival, marking their twentieth annual appearance. Now, that’s amore!
The car show was a popular attraction as car owners proudly displayed their rides from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, and Fiat Kearny Mesa had a fleet of cinquecentos on display, as well as Vespa Motorsports showing off their modern, colorful, Vespa scooters.
Festival founder Mario Cefalu who passed away in 2007, would be proud that his vision and festival he created is being carried on in tradition with festival organizers, Executive Director, Bernadette Tarantino, and Entertainment Director, Giovanna DiBona doing a tremendous job at organizing this popular and fun filled event for the whole family.
Donate