Italian Day returns to Commercial Drive for another exciting year to celebrate Italian heritage, community and life filled with song, delicious food and a lively embracing spirit as this year’s theme - Musica - honours Italian music, and the role it has played as a cultural marker in Italian history and identity. Serving as Vancouver’s largest cultural street festival celebration and one of Canada’s biggest urban festivals, Italian Day on the Drive has become synonymous with live music, food, patios, fashion, family-fun and so much more.
Musica
Edoardo Bennato - Celebrity Artist from Italy performing concert in the Park
This year, the Italian Consulate General in Vancouver, together with the Italian Day Festival Society, are proud to present one of Italy’s most creative artists and innovative singer-songwriters of his time - Edoardo Bennato, whose music is distinguished in an imaginative blend of blues and rock’ n roll, with folk influences and even opera; and who will be performing live in concert with his 10-piece band on the Grandview Park stage at 4:45pm.
Food
Authentic Italian Table Piazza
For the first time, Italian Day will feature an entire intersection dedicated to food and wine samplings presented by the Italian Chamber of Commerce as the ‘Authentic Italian Table’ Piazza, showcasing more than 10 stations with a variety of participants and products. Taking up the whole depth of the Grant street intersection, the attraction will offer attendees an opportunity to experience authentic Italian food products, fine wines and liquors, and gastronomic delights created in collaboration with local chefs. Tickets to enter the Piazza can be purchased in advance via the Italian Chamber website (www.iccbc.com) or on site at the festival.
More Food
It wouldn’t be an Italian festa without a banquet of delicious food offered up by Italian merchants and vendors: fried Italian donuts, cannoli, pasta, wood-oven panini, meatballs, gelato, arancini, pizza, espresso-based beverages and more. The festival will also include 15 extended patios, including Federico’s Tuscan style Italian Terrace, food trucks and other ethnic favorites dished up by the Drive merchants and visiting vendors. Bosa foods and Choices will also be doing free Italian cheese samplings at Napier intersections!
Other attractions, highlights and activities
Piazza Moda
Translating to “fashion square” the Piazza Moda is an exclusive look at another aspect Italy is known for – fashion. Festivalgoers and fashion lovers can look forward to three separate fashion shows throughout the day with live entertainment in between sets. RozeMerie Cuevas, the featured designer behind the Vancouver-turned-international line, JAC by Jacqueline Conoir, will be exhibiting her creations for a showcase of la bella figura.
Raffle – Italian Day takes you to Italy
Italian Day will be giving away TWO trips to Italy courtesy of Air Canada. Among the prizes is a trip for two to Rome with a three-night stay at the Marcella Royal. Other prizes include an exclusive Italian jewellery set provided by San Marco Jewellers and a Taste & Shop Little Italy on The Drive experience. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event by the 2nd Avenue stage, the Grandview Stage, Da Vinci Travel and at the Little Italy Bocce Court on Graveley.
Entertainment
Sing, dance and enjoy live music at 2nd Ave and Grandview Park main stages throughout the day, as well as at a variety of other locations, including the Jack FM and Whitecaps Parker piazza, and at 5th and 7th Avenue where DJs look to entertain.
On Graveley-East, experience the Commercial Drive BIA’s “Little Italy Bocce Court Piazza”, complete with a bocce court, Motorino electric bikes, tasting tours and a sitting area. Visitors will also enjoy local Italian-Canadian music performances on the 2nd Avenue and Grandview Park Stages, including those from the crowd-favourite restauranteur and showman, Federico Fuoco, and a new generation rising artist, Antonio Larosa. These, plus Italian Design on Wheels - Fiat, Alfa and Ducati showcase at 4th Ave, children’s amusement zones, food eating contests, pizza tossing, stilt walkers and more.
Event: Italian Day on The Drive
Location: Commercial Drive (Venables St. to Grandview Cut)
Date: Sunday, June 10, 2018
Time: 12:00pm – 8:00pm (opening ceremony at noon @ 2nd Ave)
For more information visit www.italianday.ca.
