Festa Italiana, the free-to-enter weekend-long festival celebrating Italian food, drink and culture, is set to return to Festival Piazza, Cathedral Gardens, in Manchester city centre on bank holiday weekend, 26th – 28th August 2022.
Brought to you by Manchester favourite, the family-run Salvi’s, Festa Italiana is the epitome of the city’s Italian community and heritage; it takes an undeniable inspiration from the traditional festivals in Italy but chucks in a healthy portion of Mancunian charm to create a perfect balance for a weekend of the very best in authentic food, drink, music, performance, and art.
The event is now in its fifth year following an emphatic return in 2021, after a Covid enforced break, which saw it have its most successful edition to date with a record-setting 38,000+ happy folk passing through over the sun-drenched weekend.
This year will see some much-loved Festa stalwarts return alongside some exciting debutants and some very special surprises; this year, the constantly evolving and varied programme will include workshops, demonstrations, signings and banquets from celebrity chefs and award-winning authors.
In attendance will be Gennaro Contaldo, UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast), Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch), celebrity chef and award-winning restaurateur, Aldo Zilli (The One Show, This Morning, Celebrity Masterchef), Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno, and, Festa head honcho, Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco.
In addition, Carmela Sereno Hayes, the hugely popular pastaia (AKA: specialist pasta maker) and author, will be making her hotly-anticipated return to Festa Italiana and running her, much talked about, pasta workshops all weekend long.
As always, the Salvi’s team will be joined by some of Manchester’s finest Italian street-food vendors and restaurateurs, as well as live musicians and performers supplying a proper party atmosphere to be enjoyed well into the evening.
A carefully curated selection of the leading Italian drinks brands, including Gin Mare, Luxardo and Poretti, will also be on hand with something to suit all palates and quench every thirst.
Culture fans will not be disappointed as their artistic appetite will be fed by an exciting photography exhibition that cannot yet be talked about in detail, but there is news coming soon.
If you’re coming with all the family, you can rest assured that the Festa will provide fun spaces and activities for the kids; there really is something for everyone.
With much more to be announced, check the Festa Italiana social media channels for updates… they will be worth the wait.
For more info about Manchester Festa Italiana click here.
