Festa Italiana
2025
Friday May 30th
5:00PM - 11:00PM
Saturday May 31st
11:00AM - 11:00PM
Sunday June 1st
12:00PM - 9:00PM
Admission
$15.00
Children 12 and under free with an Adult
Located at the Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N Harbor Dr | Milwaukee, WI | 53202
Thank you to our Sponsors!
“The Paisan” Sponsors:
Sponsored by Matt Craft
In Honor of All of the Festa Volunteers
In Honor of Rose Purpero Spang
In Memory of Vito and Eleanor Muccio
In Memory of Ralph and Helen Smarelli
In Memory of Virginia "Gee Gee" Davis
In Memory of Peter D and Marie Balistrieri
Sponsored by Maria Travanty Rhein & the Beiser Realty Team
In Memory of Donna Smarelli
Sponsored by Lory Wycklendt
In Memory of Nicholas C. De Leo, M.D.
In Memory of Madeline Barbado (Fuger) and Fritz Fuger
US Cellular
Stage
Festa Mass
You are warmly invited to attend the Festa Italiana Mass as we gather in faith and community to celebrate our Italian heritage and traditions.
All are welcome to attend!
US Cellular Stage
Sunday June 1
1:00PM
Mass followed by Procession & Benediction
First Communicants are welcome to attend and process in their First Communion attire
Celebrant: Very Reverend Timothy L. Kitzke
Featuring music under the direction of Michelle Klotz
La Cucina Showcase
Inside the Aurora Pavilion
6:00PM - Festa Italiana Opening Ceremony
6:45PM - Chef Teresa Balistreri - Sala da Pranzo - Cooking Demonstration
7:45PM - TBA
8:30PM - Chef Dane Baldwin - The Diplomat - Cooking Demonstration
Friday May 30th
12:00PM - Chef Petra Orlowski - Semolina Pasta & Pantry - Cooking Demonstration
1:30PM - Cannoli Eating Contest
3:00PM - Chef Dan Jacobs - Dan Dan - Cooking Demonstration | Q & A
4:30PM - Mary Pellettieri - Top Note Tonic - Italian Cocktails Demonstration
6:00PM - Chef Brian Zarletti - Zarletti - Cooking Demonstration
Saturday May 31st
1:00PM - Milwaukee’s Best Sauce Competition
Sunday June 1st
Introducing the Festa Italiana
Jr. Pizza Chef Competition
Children 9-13 years old are eligible to compete. Four (4) contestants will be selected to compete at Festa Italiana on 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏 at 3:00PM on the La Cucina Showcase Stage in the Aurora Pavilion. Additional information and free tickets will be provided.
Festa will provide fresh pizza dough for contestants to make and bake a 12” pizza in our special pizza ovens. Contestants will be required to bring the toppings for their pizza creation.
Please email the following information including competitor’s name, age, brief bio, name and description of your pizza, parent/guardian name, email address, and phone number to: Sandy Winard, sdubya002@gmail.com
A panel of judges will determine the winner of a $100 cash prize and the title of “Festa Italiana Jr. Pizza Chef”. Runner-ups will receive a gift card.
Submission deadline: Friday, May 16th.
Milwaukee’s longest running ethnic festival vocal competition will celebrate our 18th year at Festa Italiana 2025. The Italian Idol show will be Saturday, May 31st, 8:00PM-10:00PM on the Aurora Pavilion Stage on the Henry W. Maier Festival Grounds.
Italian Idol is an amateur vocal talent competition for those 14 years of age and older. As determined by a panel of judges, we will be crowning our 2025 Italian Idol, and awarding a total of $1,000 in cash prizes.
This is NOT karaoke, and your performance will be judged on multiple criteria. All genres of music are welcome, and you need not be of Italian heritage.
To be selected for the competition, submit an audition video for consideration. Please email your video, contact information, and any questions to the Director, Sandy Winard: sdubya002@gmail.com
Festa Raffle
Tickets $10 Each or 3 for $25
First Prize: Vespa 50cc fully automatic
Second Prize: $2,000
Third Prize: $1,000
Pre-sale tickets available at the ICC Office
Monday - Friday 10:00AM-4:00PM
631 E Chicago St
MIlwaukee, WI 53202
Festa Fireworks!
Saturday May 31st
10:30PM
Food Vendors
Milwaukee’s Best Sauce Contest
Sunday June 1, 2025
Noon - 2:30PM
Cucina Showcase inside the Aurora Pavilion
People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice Champions in each category will each take home the coveted Golden Ladle Trophy, along with a $200 cash prize!
May the best sauce win!
The winner of the match advances to the next round of play. In the first round, only the loser moves to the consolation round.
After the first round, the winning team will continue to advance up the finals with the winner taking first, loser, taking second. Any loss after the first round eliminate that team from future play.
In the constellation round, only winning teams will advance with the winner of the consolation round wins third place. Any loss after the first round eliminates that team from future play.
Carry-In information
The following items are ALLOWED:
Umbrellas
Strollers
Disposable Camera
Small Camera (No Professional Grade Cameras and Video Equipment)
Small Bag, Cinch bag, or Purse:
The following items are NOT ALLOWED:
Backpacks (special consideration will be given for parents with infants and those with medical needs)
Large Bags over 9X10X12 inches
Camelback style hydration packs
Picnic Baskets
Outside food and beverages (unless needed for infants, medical or dietary needs)
Cans and Glass/Plastic or Metal Containers (including Yeti type bottles, tumblers, thermos, and disposable plastic bottles)
Coolers or other hard side containers
Stainless steel reusable drinking straws
Self-defense sprays (such as OC, pepper spray or mace)
Aerosol cans (except for spray sunscreens 6oz or less, 1 per patron)
UAV-Drones
Alcohol
Illegal drugs or substances
Firearms (no open or concealed weapons/firearms)
Knives
Weapons or objects that could be used as weapons
Fireworks, sparklers, or explosives
Professional cameras (cameras with a detachable lens or lens that extends further than 3 inches) or video equipment
Recording devices
Brooms/broomsticks, selfie sticks, poles, trekking sticks, and tripods
Pets (except service animals, or during special events or promotions)
Banners or flags on poles
Laser pointers
Skateboards, roller skates, inline skates or hoverboards
Foot powered or electric scooters
Bicycles, tricycles or unicycles
Wagons
Kites
Hula-hoops, Frisbees, and beach balls
Stadium seats, Sit-Upon, seat cushions, and lawn chairs
*This list is not exhaustive. Items not appearing on the list may still be prohibited at the discretion of MWF Security if the items pose a potential threat to safety of our guests or due to event restrictions
Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. d/b/a Summerfest reserves the right to alter carry-in item policies at any time. MWF will not offer accommodations for prohibited items and are not responsible for items left behind in the screening process.
Interested in volunteering?
Click the photo below to signup
Festa Italiana will be held at the
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N Harbor Dr
Milwaukee, WI 53202
