The 16th annual Feast of Little Italy brings a sensational, three-day-long celebration of exciting international and national Italian and Italian-American performers to its entertainment stage Nov. 2 – 4 at Abacoa, in Jupiter.
Learn more about the man behind the Feast, recognized as one of distinguished Who's Who of Palm Beach, Jerry Somma.
The annual event, presented by Arrigo Fiat West Palm, is sure to excite and sizzle, hosted by Virginia Sinicki, on-air personality from the KVJ Show, serving as Feast of Little Italy Master of Ceremonies.
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Admission is $8.00 to the festival and includes all the concerts, cooking demos, wine seminars and lots more. Children 12 and under are free. Parking is free.
Friday, 11/2 4p-10p
Saturday, 11/3 11a-10p
Sunday, 11/4 11a-7p
Location: Abacoa, 1200 University Blvd, Jupiter, FL 33458
Headlining the Feast this year is dynamic pop-artist Christian Guardino, who will light up the stage starting at 8 pm, Saturday, Nov. 3rd. Guardino, an Italian-American kid from Long Island, NY, was a finalist who earned standing ovations from the judges and a Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel while wooing audiences with his soulful arrangements, such as: “Who’s Loving You” and “What’s Going On” on the top NBC show, America’s Got Talent.
Joining the star-studded performer on the Saturday stage at 6:30 pm is The Sicilian Tenors, sure to please with stunning harmonies and unique stylings with songs like the crowd favorite “O Sole Mio,” and “Mister,” in tribute to Luciano Pavarotti – with special guest Lorrianna Colozzo.
A Feast favorite, bringing his smooth vocals, is the show-stopping, national performing artist Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti – who will take the stage Sunday, Nov. 4 at 5:45 pm. Sal will sing the standards, crooning tunes by Sinatra, Martin and more crowd favorites. Also performing on Sunday at 1:30 pm is local, Italian-American country artist and songwriter JessLee, of Stuart, introduced to a global audience in a stunning appearance while competing on “The Voice” this season.
Kicking off the Feast entertainment 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 is The Turnstiles with a New York state of mind. Come rock to the music of Billy Joel with songs like “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” “Piano Man,” and “Uptown Girl.”
Bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the talented entertainers all day long at the center of the Feast – its entertainment stage. Returning to the stage this year, are local Italian-American crooners Phillipe Harari and Vincent Lanciano, who will entertain on Friday.
Saturday afternoon let’s get down with the daughter of Italian immigrants, Maria De Crescenzo who tours with KC and the Sunshine Band and swoon to more romantic sounds of Italian artist Marco Turo. Get ready to move to the sounds of Angelo Venuto, with his upbeat, fun Italian renditions sure to bring the crowd to its feet.
On Sunday, enjoy local, beloved crooner Franco Corso, fondly known by audiences as, `The Voice of Romance,’ who will entertain with romantic ballads by Andrea Bocelli.
Food, entertainment, Bocce and Bada-Bingo cheer Italian-American heritage
Visit the Feast of Little Italy’s three-day, family, fun-filled, old- world Italian, ‘street festival, with something for everyone to enjoy and experience.
Join in the authentic Italian Galbani Cheese Building Contest for Charity to cheer on local celebrities and very special guests to see who can stack the highest cheese tower. It’s all in the name of `cheesy-fun,’ hosted by Feast Master of Ceremonies Virginia Sinicki, on-air personality from the KVJ Show on 97.9 WRMF, and her daughter Magnolia, 13.
New this year, is a draw for artisans and art enthusiasts alike, with the cultural addition of the Hoffman’s Chocolate Michelangelo Pavilion, presented by BBX Capital, It’s Sugar, MOD, and the Lighthouse ArtsCenter. All ages can enjoy free arts and crafts activities. Bring the kids to make and decorate holiday ornaments, Venetian masks, chef hats, and more! Also new, in addition to the popular Italianesque game Bocce, visitors are invited to learn to play and compete to win prizes with another game first played in Ancient Rome – Bada-Bingo!
Food and Wine Seminars:
Year after year, national and local chefs come out to the Feast of Little Italy and demonstrate how to cook specialty, Italian dishes. The La Cucina Galbani Cooking Pavilion is the place to learn how to prepare delicious cuisine, with up-close demonstrations.
Daily, Galbani’s intimate cooking pavilion “kitchen” with will be filled with nationally-known chefs most notable, Galbani Chef Marco Sciortino, also from the hit TV show “Come Dine with Me,” and local celebrity cook Virginia Sinicki from the KVJ show on 97.9 WRMF, who will serve up light options to taste. Chef Nina Tomasik of Nina’s Bakery will be showing off her talents of creating art on dessert and cakes. Come get a taste of Italy throughout the weekend. Free seminars will be held Friday 7 pm, Saturday at noon, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm, and Sunday, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. To complement the palate, Voga Italia is the proud wine sponsor bringing taste and style. Their collection ranges from white to red and sparkling to sweet. Join us as world-renowned wine connoisseur Anthony Acampa takes you on a journey with your palate. Free wine demonstrations will be held Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm.
A Feast highlight is the Galbani Golden Wooden Spoon Competition when last year’s winner, Felicia Rodriguez, Anchor with WPBF- 25 News, (local ABC affiliate) battles it out against Co-Anchor Tiffany Kenney for the trophy! Come on out to vote for your favorite dish from their prize kitchen recipes!
Food:
With every step you take in Abacoa, visitors will find food vendors serving up authentic Italian dishes – from pasta, pizza, sausage and peppers, to risotto, arancini balls, Feast favorite pinwheels, and so much more! The aroma of Italy will surround you and each scrumptious bite is certain to keep you hungry and coming back for more! Come and get a taste from dishes that hail from both south and northern Italy ranging from seafood pescatore, calamari, antipasto platters, fried raviolis, clams on the half-shell, and fried calzones. Then, enjoy not-to-be-missed Italian dessert with homemade zeppole’s, sfogliatella, and cannoli. Joseph’s Classic Market will be on-site selling their homemade products and cooking up some of the favorites that locals have come to know and love. If Italian food is what you crave, then the Feast is the place to be.
Tradition/Culture: At the Feast, the Italian culture surrounds you and we invite families, friends and neighbors to share in the Italian traditions. As you stroll through the Italian marketplace, shop and explore hundreds of vendors selling Italian garb from T-shirts and Italian jewelry – to home must-haves for every kitchen. Along the path, amid aromas, sights and sounds, meet Peppino, the strolling accordion player (accordion was first produced in Italy in the 1860s) and enjoy while he reminds you that the cheerful sounds have been heard for generations as he plays classic Italian music with a jig and a smile. Bocce, Bada-Bingo anyone? Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been playing for years, Feast visitors are invited to learn and play the games first played in Ancient Rome. Join in the fun alone or build a team – Bada Bing!
Family Fun:
After eating all you can eat, the children’s area will be ready for you filled with all your favorite festival rides and prize-winning games. The Feast will create memorable moments to share like whizzing down an oversized slide, climbing a rock wall, and even bungy jumping! Don’t miss bringing the kids to get their faces painted, pop balloons and shoot some hoops! Step up, win a prize, and watch them smile!
Charity:
Get into the ‘holiday spirit’ as the Feast serves as the launch for the Little Smiles Toy Drive! Little Smiles, the official charity of the Feast of Little Italy, will be on site raising awareness about their mission, hosting fun activities and welcoming new, unwrapped toys. This is a volunteer driven, non-profit 501c3 children’s charity. Their mission is to help heal hearts and create little smiles by providing gifts and fun activities to children impacted by serious illness, homelessness or tragedy. With the guidance of local professionals such as doctors, nurses, child life specialists and social workers, together we strive to help kids escape their unfortunate circumstances, even if only for a short period of time.
About the Feast of Little Italy: It began 16 years ago with a dream and a vision to create an experience rich in Italian culture to share. With family tradition and values at the core of its mission, the Feast continues to serve as the signature event that brings together generations in a celebration of marked contributions by great Italians. Through food, music, art and history, over the three-day-festival, we remain steadfast to encouraging the importance of bringing together the community, rooted in the importance of family. We remain dedicated to staying mindful about the hardships that our ancestors endured in migration to this great country and proud of our Italian-American heritage.
About Galbani®:
First crafted in Italy by Egidio Galbani in 1882—Galbani® cheeses have long been the #1 cheese brand in Italy. For over 130 years, Galbani cheese has been delighting families all over Italy. Today the Galbani brand brings its timeless tradition from Italy to the American table with the delicious taste of mozzarella, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and snack cheese made and sold in the United States. Galbani® cheese is a leading brand of the Lactalis American Group, Inc. (“LAG”). Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, LAG is a subsidiary of Parmalat S.p.A., an Italian public entity majority-owned by France-based Groupe Lactalis - the world's largest producer of premium cheese. LAG produces a wide array of cheese products, including a variety of specialty cheese available to retail, foodservice and industrial customers. For more info on Galbani, please visit www.galbanicheese.com. ©2018 Lactalis American Group, Inc., Buffalo, NY 14220. Galbani is a ® of Egidio Galbani S.r.l.
Calendar Listing:
The 16th Annual Feast of Little Italy presented by Arrigo Fiat West Palm – Nov. 2-4, 2018, (Friday 4 pm-10pm, Saturday 11 am – 10 pm, and Sunday 11 am – 7 pm at Abacoa. The celebrated three-day family Italian street festival will have national entertainment, authentic food, festival rides and games, free wine and cooking demonstrations and more. Admission $8; discounted multiple day passes are available. Children 12 and under are free and there is free parking. www.feastoflittleitaly.com.
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