Beginning Thursday The Italian Club of Tampa launches their 19th annual Festa Italiana in Tampa with what else, Wine!  Yes, this Thursday night from 6 – 9 pm at the Wines of Italy Event we can sip and savor the body and bouquet of 70+ select Italian Wines from the sun-drenched hills known as the enotria, or “Land of Wine,”  Italy, the largest wine producer by volume, carefully cultivates vines across the peninsula's rich plains in the north to powerful volcanic soils in the south so we can enjoy delicate dessert wines and hearty Borolos.  Spend Saturday with friends at the Bocce Ball Invitational, enjoy singing competitions then return Sunday for the Main Event! Food, Drink, Music, Friendship, and Fun are on the menu this week in Tampa as Festa Italiana 2016 Celebrates Vino, Italian Cuisine, and More!

Thursday Night

Wines of Italy, the official opening party for this premier Tampa event takes place at the historic Italian Club in Ybor City. Tickets are limited at $60 and give you access to over 70 wines from twenty wine regions, savory Italian cuisine from Carrabba's Italian Grill, live entertainment and a Silent Auction with over 100 items. Following the tasting, you can buy your favorite bottles of wine! Proceeds from opening night benefit The Italian Club Restoration Fund.

Friday 6 pm - 10 pm

Enjoy Happy Hour Italian style this Friday! After work check your team into the 7th annual Krewe of Italia Bocce Ball Tournament at 6 pm in Centennial Park. Twenty-four teams will be entered on a first-come-first-serve basis into this bracket style tournament. The cost to participate is $120 per team, proceeds benefit restoration of the historic Italian Club. Never played? Watching is FREE and Bocce Ball is exciting! Dine on fine Italian cuisine by Larry Scaglione and Cajun dishes from Papa Ron. Enjoy Italian ice and a good cigar, a well-stocked bar, and dancing under the stars. Friday is your chance to do something a little different, make it a night! 

Saturday 11 am - 5:30 pm

The celebration continues Saturday with another hotly contested annual Bocce Ball Invitational held in Centennial Park alongside the Ybor City Saturday Market.  Get your Bocce on then shop local vendors and merchants at one of Tampa's best outdoor markets. An Italian Idol competition will take place at the Italian Club from 11 am - 3 pm; it is free to participate, kids and adults sing separately.  Kids compete between 11 am and 3 pm, adults begin at 1:30 with winners announced at 3 pm. The Homemade Vino Competition and Tasting, sponsored by Pardo Wine Grapes, takes place at The Italian Club, from 4 pm -5:30 pm


 

Sunday : the Main Event  10 am - 6:30 pm

Begin with Mass in The Italian Club at 10 am followed by a procession to Centennial Park where the party gets underway at 11 am. Restaurants and caterers will serve food and drinks from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Look for places around the park to purchase food tickets, vendors do not handle cash! Admission to the Main Event is $5 when you BUY NOW or $10 day of the event. Children under 12 are FREE. Live entertainment includes local Idol favorite Shannon Magrane this year with Lights Out, Aaron Caruso, Tre Bella and more.

Enjoy Italian craft cocktails, frozen Bellinis, Italian Margaritas and other specialty drinks in the Club Italia tent, enter raffles for $3500 in free gas courtesy of sponsor Marathon Oil and half-carat diamond earrings from Mavilo Jewelers and more, more, more!  Children can stomp to their heart's content at the Grape Stomp, create art and play, Festa Italiana is a family-friendly event, bring the whole family, invite your friends, have fun!
 

The Details: 

Participating restaurants to date include:

On the Main Stage Sunday:

  • 11:30am: Blessing & Parade
  • 11:45am: Opening Ceremony with Ciao Sicilia
  • 12:30pm: Italian Idol
  • 1pm: Shannon Magrane
  • 1:45pm: Tampa City Ballet
  • 2pm: Tre Bella
  • 2:50pm: Collective Soles Arts Group
  • 3pm: Aaron Caruso
  • 3:50pm: Reverse Raffle announcement
  • 4pm: Lights Out
  • 5:30pm: Festa Italiana Scholarship presentation
  • 5:35pm: Ciao Sicilia 
  • 6pm: Hopper Raffle announcement

Admission and Parking:

  • $5 advance online until April 9, 2016
  • $10 online on the day of event, April 10, 2016
  • $25 Festa FEAST DEAL includes $25 Food & Drink Tickets + admission for 2. Limited Quantity
  • FREE ADMISSION for children under the age of 12 years old.
  • Parking will be available in any of the surrounding parking lots, notably off of 18th/Angel Oliva Senior Street between 7th and 5th Avenue, off of 19th Street between 7th and 5th Avenue, and in the Centro Ybor Parking garages.

Bring chairs, wear comfortable clothes and plan to stay for the day. Festa Italiana is best experienced when you do as the Italians do, sit awhile! Relax, dine, sip great wines, visit, make new friends and enjoy the sights, sounds and sensation that is Festa Italiana! Live the good life!

Buy your tickets today!  Rilassarsi, bere , mangiare e vivere la bella vita.