Mario Amalfitano, president of the Little Italy Foundation of Los Angeles Association, speaks during opening ceremonies of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Tim McOsker is joined by Italian Consul General of Los Angeles Rafaella Valentini, Marissa Antonini, Joe Buscaino, Mario Amalfitano and other officials for a ribbon-cutting with the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association to celebrate the official opening of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Councilmember Tim McOsker reacts to former council member Joe Buscaino speaking during the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association to celebrate the opening of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Officials and members of the public come together for a ribbon-cutting with the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association to celebrate the opening of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Officials and members of the public come together for a ribbon-cutting with the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association to celebrate the opening of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Festa Italiana hosted by the Little Italy of Los Angeles w/the council district to kick off Italian-American Heritage Month took place Saturday afternoon in downtown San Pedro. Italian food, live entertainment, a beer and wine garden along with kids activities and vendors occupied 6th St. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
In the heart of San Pedro’s Little Italy, people celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at Gaelic & Garlic Saturday evening. The event brought together St Patricks Day and San Pedro’s Italian American community. (Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
San Pedro’s downtown Business Improvement District arranged for 130 U.S. flags to be hung throughout the historic shopping district on Friday, Oct. 30, to mark the upcoming 2020 election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. A number of the flags went up in the town’s Little Italy district. PBID is hanging American flags on the streets of downtown San Pedro to celebrate the upcoming election. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
The actor Joe Mantegna speaks during an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The actor Joe Mantegna speaks during an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Marco, 5, and Gianna Rizzi, 9, and Mikala Brabbee, 9, play as the confetti rains down during an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Confetti rains down during an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Hundreds turn out for an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Emily Zamourka, the “Subway Soprano” homeless woman whose opera aria performance in a subway station went viral, is surrounded by media and fans after singing in an outdoor “Festa” celebration to launch San Pedro’s Little Italy district on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Mario Amalfitano, president of the Little Italy Foundation of Los Angeles Association, speaks during opening ceremonies of Piazza Miramare in San Pedro on Saturday January 17, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Get ready to celebrate Italian culture, food and entertainment.
San Pedro will kick off Italian American Heritage Month this weekend with a flurry of activities, beginning with “Festa Italiana” from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in the historic downtown/waterfront shopping district (between South Palos Verdes and South Centre streets).
It is sponsored by the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association.
San Pedro is home to one of the largest and most historic Italian American communities in Southern California, and will celebrate that heritage throughout the month of October, highlighting the history, culture and contributions of Italian Americans in Los Angeles and beyond.
The opening celebration on Saturday will transform the port’s downtown into a celebration of all things Italian, with food, live music and other entertainment. There will even be a Ferrari exhibit.
Other highlights will include a flyover, cultural vendors and family programming throughout the day. The daylong event is free.
Other activities are also planned throughout the month, with much of the activity taking place in San Pedro’s Little Italy district in the town’s downtown, and a chance to enjoy the new Piazza Miramare 629 S. Harbor Blvd. The plaza, a 10,000 square-foot mini park space, is within the town’s Little Italy district, established under former Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino.
The Los Angeles City Council declared a section of San Pedro as “Little Italy” in 2018.
The history of Italian immigrants in Los Angeles dates back to the 1800s, and large numbers of Italians have long lived and worked in San Pedro.
Among other highlights planned is the launch of Mother Cabrini Day — on Oct.13 — with a ceremony in Downtown Los Angeles.
The recognition, in part, follows the observance of Columbus Day, which has been recast as Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day in some parts of the U.S., with observances varying by state and local entities, said Anna Manunza, president of the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association.
A gathering in downtown on that day will honor the Italian Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants, whose legacy of service, compassion and advocacy has inspired generations, Manunza said. Her work serving immigrants and connections to the immigrant experience, Manunza added, has given birth to what is intended now to be an annual observance.
“Mother Cabrini’s story is particularly meaningful because of her work serving immigrants and her enduring connection to the immigrant experience,” a statement from the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association said. “We are also proud to establish this as an annual observance for our Italian American community.”
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