The UK’s biggest free-to-attend Italian festival is returning to the city centre for three days of Italian food, drinks and culture. Festa Italiana will take over Cathedral Gardens during the August Bank Holiday weekend with a mini market featuring local and authentic Italian produce, street food stalls, cooking classes, and family-friendly entertainment. Hosted by family-run restaurant group Salvi’s, the popular event will officially get underway with a ‘show-stopping’ opening ceremony on Friday, August 23 featuring Fornovo Taro flag wavers Ducato di Parma.
The event will then continue until Sunday, August 25. READ MORE: The Greater Manchester park with a giant sandpit, funfair and a £1 train that families love Across the weekend, the festival will also feature a ‘volcanic lemonade experience’ straight from Naples and appearances from chefs including Saturday Kitchen star Gennaro Contaldo and Great British Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno. Conni’s Focacceria , The Pista Bar, Grandpa Greenes, Il Forno and Proove Pizza will be amongst the food vendors on hand to keep visitors well fed, alongside the likes of Crosta & Mollica, Cafe Cannoli and Rizzo’s Sicilian Street Food.
Celebrity chefs will be on hand for a series of live cooking demonstrations and workshops (Image: Florindo Albaphotos) The festival will also feature a series of pop-up bars, including one designated specifically to authentic Italian aperitifs like Aperol Spritz and Limoncello Spritz. The.