Festitalia

One of Queensland’s most beloved cultural festivals, Festitalia is back after eight years, transforming the RNA Showgrounds into a vibrant Italian playground of flavour, flair, music, food and family on Father's Day, September 7. And it's going to be fantastico!

A celebration of Italian heritage, FESTITALIA has long been a treasured community event, remembered for its dazzling entertainment, authentic food, and that unmistakeable feeling of Italian joy – allegria.

With its brand new home at the RNA Showgrounds, Festitalia will bring back everything that it's famous for: dancing, pizza acrobatics, Nonna’s Kitchen stalls, opera singers, traditional folk bands, and so much more. FESTITALIA is more than a festival – it’s a love letter to Italian culture, and a day that captures the sights, sounds, and soul of Italy – right here in Brisbane!

This year’s program reads like a who's who of Italian-style entertainment:

• Opera stars and folk bands including Raffaele Pierno and Zumpa
• World-class pizza acrobatics with Youssef Ben Touati
• Theatre and roaming acts like Homunculus Theatre’s Pulcinellas
• Young guitar prodigy Henry Catania
• Performances by Divina Opera, Latinissima, Diletta and Dan, and more!

Of course, it wouldn’t be FESTITALIA without the food – and there’s plenty of it. Think wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, espresso bars, fine Italian wines, gelato carts, and food stalls dishing up regional specialties and family recipes passed down through generations. 

Being Father’s Day, why not swap socks for spaghetti! At Festitalia there's something for every dad to enjoy:

• For the Dads who love fast cars & fine food -  treat him to a day of classic Italian car displays, fine wine, and flavours that take him straight to the streets of Rome. Add in live music and the family together – perfecto!
• For the Dad who has everything .. except maybe an afternoon of Italian charm! This Father’s Day, gift Dad an experience – the sights, sounds, and tastes of Italy without leaving Brisbane. Bring the famiglia and make memories.
• For the competitive Dads – go head and enter Dad in Best Dressed Italian Dad, and Dad with the Biggest Pancia (belly!) – there’s Merlo Coffee hampers as prizes!!

Together with Dad, the whole family can join in the fun, with everything from a petting zoo and kids’ games to a Roman military camp, Prima Spada fencing lessons, and of course, the ever-popular Nonna’s Kitchen. Plus there’s the competitions like Best Dressed Italian Dad, Nonna’s Slipper Throw, and Dad with the Biggest Pancia (belly!), along with old-school games like Tira Molla (tug of war) and Italian-style musical statues

Whether you’re Italian by blood, by love, or simply by appetite – FESTITALIA is back, and it’s better than ever. So, Brisbane, get ready to shout Evviva! and celebrate Father’s Day the Italian way!

Festitalia is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com