Little Italy Festa 2013

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If you’ve ever ventured to Little Italy in San Diego, you’ll remember the mouth-watering eats and charming bistros that fill the area located just north of the hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego.  Don’t just reminisce—make the trip back for a celebration of Italian Culture at the Little Italy Festa on Sunday, October 13th.

The Little Italy Festa will of course boast delicious Italian food served al fresco from 180+ booths throughout the neighborhood, featuring a wide variety of flavors and specialties. From calamari to arancini to pizza, your taste buds will be thanking you for attending! The Festa will also provide the opportunity to attend cooking demonstrations, or even to put your recipe to the test by entering one of the festival cooking contests.

The Festa will also provide a feast for your eyes in the form of the Gesso Italiano (Italian Chalk) art painting, which is one of the largest sidewalk chalk art displays in the country! The chalk paintings are the Festa’s primary focus, as over 50 teams use their skills to create some of the most beautiful art imaginable.  Each piece of art is 8’x8’ and themed to depict Italy or Italian-American culture. “[This art will pay] homage to the heritage, history and culture that have made San Diego’s own Little Italy what it is today” (http://www.littleitalysd.com/).

After you stuff yourself full of lasagna and tortellini, visit the Ballast Point Beer & Wine garden to wash it all down. Then head over to the Italian Motorsport Show to gawk at some of Italy’s most enticing cars like Lamborghinis, Ducatis, Alfa Romeos and more!

Three stages of live entertainment will provide dancing and fun for all! From The Marine Band to the festival headliner, Oh What a Night—A Tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, there’s something for everyone. This event is open to all ages, so bring the kids along to enjoy the Festa’s Kids Fun Zone. The Kids Zone will give your little ones the chance to create some of their own Gesso Italiano art, get their faces painted, play on inflatables and more.

This festival is widely popular among locals and tourists, so be sure to arrive early and come hungry! Many of the vendors have delectable eats at a low cost, but keep in mind, most of them accept only accept cash.

Just a 10-minute drive from Ocean Park Inn, the Little Italy Festa is the perfect way for you and your family to immerse yourselves in Southern California’s Italian-American culture. We provide all guests with an Uber discount (for first time users only), so make sure you talk to our front desk staff to find you the best transportation options in town!

To see pictures from last year’s Festa, please visit http://littleitalysd.smugmug.com/Events/FESTA-2012/26006112_MwC8mh#!i=2158561736&k=f24h7bZ

We hope to see you there. Ciao!

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