With food, music, dancing, bocce and even a little history and culture, Syracuse’s Festa Italiana has something for everyone.
Celebrating its 27th edition in 2025, the three-day festival, which opens on Friday at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall, salutes all things Italian.
The family-friendly event will feature live Italian entertainment, music and dancing, beer and wine, live raffles and street performers.
It is free to attend.
The festival gets started on Friday with a charity meatball challenge where the contestant who eats the most meatballs gets $500 donated to their favorite local charity. It starts at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Fayette Street Stage.
Food vendors include Alteri’s La Bella Dolce Gelateria, Avicolli’s Coal Fire, It’s a Utica Thing! Kitchen & Bar and The Saucy Sandwich. Biscotti Café and Pastry Shop and Big Mama’s Cheesecake will provide desserts.
Festa Italiana in downtown Syracuse.(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Music will be performed all weekend long on two stages.
Prime Time Horns, Dirtroad Ruckus and Atlas are the closing acts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively on the main stage. The small stage has music all day too, starting at noon.
An open-air mass is scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. on the Main Stage. Bishop Douglas Lucia will preside.
The annual Festa Italiana Bocce Tournament returns on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. If you have a team, you can sign up until 8 that morning. The first place team will be awarded is $240. Entry fees are $80 a team.
Al Stirpe throws his bocce ball at the downtown Syracuse Festa Italiana during its annual tournament. (Michael Greenlar)Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syr
Each day during the festival, there will be “heritage presentations and demonstrations” inside the Atrium Building next to City Hall.
A selection of guests, like Jim Battaglia, Frank Riccardiello, Ed Gasparini, Laura Hand and John Cerrone, will be discussing a variety of topics, like food, Italian folk songs, and heritage.
Mums the Mime will perform on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
For a complete look at the entire Festa Italiana music and guest speaker schedule and food vendor list, visit their website.
Festa Italiana 2025 runs on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5.
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Dining and Cooking