Festa Italiana, the UK’s biggest and most vibrant Italian festival, brought to you by much-loved family-run restaurant group Salvi’s, has revealed its programma massiccio of Italian food, drinks and culture for this year’s takeover of Cathedral Gardens on August Bank Holiday weekend (23rd – 25th August).
A passion project dreamt up by Neapolitan chef and founder of Salvi’s, Maurizio Cecco, Festa Italiana is now delivering its 7th edition, as it brings Manchester’s huge Italian community together each year to transform a city centre square into the bustling Festival Piazza.
As ever, the festival is striving to keep things fresh and is offering up some brand-new additions to its line-up for 2024 including a showstopping opening ceremony by Fornovo Taro flag wavers Ducato di Parma, a piccolo mercato (mini market) selling authentic Italian and local produce, a volcanic lemonade experience straight from Naples, and cooking class with a wild party twist Viva la Cucina.
Maurizio says: “You know we don’t stop moving, don’t you?! This is Manchester and we like to keep things fresh. We’ve ripped up the rule book this year and we’re bringing you all kinds of new experiences as part of the massive Festa Italiana programme.
“Naples is where I am from but Manchester is my home and it is my mission to keep evolving and surprising my people here with beautiful secrets and hidden gems from Italy. The Festa is going from strength to strength and we want it to feel like a little holiday right on your doorstep, so come along and let us help you take a break from the real world.”
