A huge celebration of Italian-Australian culture is taking over the Royal Exhibition Building and surrounding grounds. At the Italian Festa & Expo, you can look forward to plenty of Italian food, wine, music, entertainment and stalls, with over 250 exhibitors across one weekend. It’s all happening on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18. Entry is free!
Italian Festa & Expo
This year, everything at the festival is split into one of three categories: The Celebration, The Shopping and The Discovery. And everywhere you look, you can be sure to find plenty of delicious food and drink. Feast on pizza, pasta, gnocchi, panini and arrosticini, or sweeten things up with cannoli, tiramisu and gelato. Sip on coffee, or unwind with Italian wines, spritzes, cocktails and beer.
The Celebration
Stay entertained from day to night with a variety of live music, DJs, dancing, bands, singers and performers across multiple stages and entertainment areas.
Outside in La Piazza, you’ll find the Verrocchi Stage, which will host live concerts and community performances across both days. Relax in the open-air Beer Garden, where you’ll listen to buskers and live muscians. Or, hit the dancefloor in La Discoteca, where a rolling line-up of DJs will spin the best Italo disco and dance-pop.
Inside the Royal Exhibition Building, you can listen to primary school choirs celebrate Italian culture and music.
You can also check out the Italian Jazz Club, a series of six, ticketed concerts. These intimate performances will feature artists from Australia, Italy and beyond.
Meanwhile, families will have all sorts of fun things to see and do, with interactive games, face painting, workshops, animal encounters and even amusement rides for the little ones!
The Shopping
If you love a good market, you can’t miss this. Head inside the Royal Exhibition Building, where you’ll find an assortment of gourmet food, wine, fashion, beauty, homewares, jewellery, artisan products and Italian-inspired lifestyle brands. Stock up your pantry with pasta, sauces, cheese, olive oil, sweets and more.
You can also purchase tickets to the new Italian Mega Raffle. Prizes up for grabs include flights to Italy, and a limited-edition Vespa.
The Discovery
Dive further into Italian culture with exclusive experiences in the Gallery upstairs.
Purchase a ticket to Expo Sapori, where you’ll taste over 100 Italian wines, and enjoy specialty foods and masterclasses. Chat with the producers and take your favourites home.
While you’re there, check out some live cooking demonstrations from special guest Guy Grossi, and eight Italian chefs. Across four demonstrations each day, they will prepare four courses, sharing authentic recipes, traditions and stories along the way.
Celebrate 80 years of the iconic Vespa in a special display, featuring eight vintage Vespas. Each one represents a decade of its history.
There will also be an Art & Design exhibition, showcasing works from Italian artists based in Australia, alongside installations and creative experiences.
Key details
đź“…Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18
đź•’11am to 10:30pm on Saturday, and 11am to 8:30pm on Sunday
🎫Entry is free, but there are some extra, ticketed experiences, such as the jazz concerts and Expo Sapori.
Learn more about it here.
