L'Italo-Americano
PAGE 26
THURS DAY, JULY 11, 2013
It's time for Italian Festivals in the Bay Area
ROBERTO NATALINI
With the arrival of summer
time, each town and city in
Italy celebrates tradition and
culture with countless feasts
throughout the peninsula, where
local food and popular customs
become the heart of the festivity.
In California and in particular
in the Bay Area, the Italian heritage is honored as well with
several
"Feste
Italiane" between the months of
June and August.
The first one to open the cele-
brations was the 59 th "North
Beach Festival" in San
Francisco's Little Italy (June 14
and 15), considered one of the
country's original outdoor
Festivals.
Moving from a historical festival to a newborn, last June
30th for the first time the city of
Stockton had its own "Festa
Italiana:
Giorno
della
Famiglia". The event was a
success with thousand people in
attendance, with Italy's lovers
coming from the surrounding
cities of Linden, Escalon,
Farmington, Manteca, Modesto,
Lodi, Elk Grove, San Jose,
Sacramento and San Francisco!
The inaugural festival, presented by Cortopassi Family
Foundation, is soon to be San
Joaquin County's premier celebration of the Italian Culture
and all things Italian.
While in July "Festa Italiana
in San Mateo" takes place,
organized by the Peninsula
Italian American Social Club,
and "North American Trentino
Convention" in San Francisco,
the following month will be
really full of Italian festivities.
The first weekend of August
(Saturday 3 and Sunday 4) is
traditionally the time of "Festa
Italiana in Sacramento",
arrived at its 28 th annual edition thanks to the wonderful
work of the Italian Cultural
Society
of
Sacramento
(www.italiancenter.net/ ).
Just two days after Italy's
"Ferragosto", mark your calendar for the 95th anniversary of
"Festa Coloniale Italiana"
(August 17), the San Francisco
Italian Athletic Club's incredi-
ble free heritage celebration
(www.sfiacfesta.com/ ).
By the end of the month, also
the Italian community in San
José will get together for the
"Italian Family Festa 2013"
(August 24 and 25), hosted by
the Italian American Heritage
Foundation, that will take place
at the Guadalupe River Park &
Gardens, adjacent to Little Italy
San Jose at Julian and St. John
Streets (www.italianfamilyfestasj.org/ ).
Have a wonderful summer
and Buon Divertimento.
Bocce for beginners at the "Festa Italiana: Giorno della Famiglia"
Traditional Costumes at the "Festa Italiana: Giorno della Famiglia"
L'Italo-Americano booth at Festa Italiana in Stockton
Liguri nel Mondo booth at Festa Italiana in Stockton
Accordion players at Festa Italiana in Stockton
