Mississauga is about to get a taste of Italy as one of the city’s biggest and longest-running cultural celebrations returns to Celebration Square this weekend.
Mississauga Italfest is expected to draw large crowds to the city centre on Friday and Saturday as thousands of people gather for two days of Italian food, music, traditions and entertainment.
The free festival runs Friday, Aug. 21, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 22, from noon to 11 p.m. at Mississauga Celebration Square.
Now in its 15th year, Italfest has grown from a local celebration into one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals, attracting visitors from across the province, Canada, the United States and even Italy.
The annual event was founded in 2012 by a group of Canadian Italians looking to preserve and share Italian traditions. It has since become a major fixture on Mississauga’s summer festival calendar.
And there will be plenty to see, hear and eat this weekend.
Visitors can expect authentic Italian food, fresh pasta and pizza, espresso and cannoli, food trucks, artisan vendors and more than 60 vendors and artisans throughout the festival.
Music and entertainment will take over the Celebration Square stages, with international performers, Italian folk acts, heritage dancers, regional choirs and Canadian music veteran Alfie Zappacosta among the featured performers.
There will also be plenty of opportunities for visitors to take part rather than simply watch.
The festival features culinary demonstrations, bocce tournaments, Italian card games, food-eating contests, children’s activities, a soccer challenge, sports-zone inflatables and opportunities for people to learn how to play bocce.
A heritage and cultural pavilion will showcase Italian history and traditions, while ceremonial marches featuring representatives of Italy’s Bersaglieri, Carabinieri and police forces will provide another connection to the country’s past.
The weekend celebration is also tied to Ferragosto, a major Italian summer holiday traditionally celebrated in August.
Organizers describe Italfest as more than a celebration for the Italian-Canadian community, however, pointing to its role in introducing Italian heritage and traditions to Mississauga’s increasingly diverse population.
That has helped the festival continue to grow, with attendance increasing since it moved to Celebration Square.
Over the years, Italfest has also welcomed major performers and special guests, including Italian acts and Canadian stars. One of its memorable moments came when Canadian singer Roberta Battaglia performed on the main stage as a young performer before later appearing on America’s Got Talent.
The festival continued during the COVID-19 pandemic with a virtual edition in 2021 that attracted more than 40,000 views online and earned an Achievement Award from Festivals and Events Ontario.
Now, the festival is returning to the heart of Mississauga for another summer weekend of food, music and Italian culture.
For visitors, admission is free, and organizers are expecting another big turnout as Italfest once again transforms Celebration Square into a bustling celebration of Italy in the middle of Mississauga.
Italfest runs Friday, Aug. 21, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 22, from noon to 11 p.m. at Mississauga Celebration Square.
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