Be Italian for a day!
Festival Italiano
25 September 2016, 11am – 4pm
Osborne Street, Kent Street and Rialto Centre, Newmarket, Auckland – Free entry
The largest Italian Festival in New Zealand is back – bigger and better than ever, bringing all the culture, music, food and design that Italy can offer in Aotearoa.
From 2 September to 2 October the Italian community will celebrate the Italian Festival Season in Auckland with a variety of events in the city, from classical concerts to Italian restaurant and store specials.
The apex of the Italian Festival Season will be the annual Italian community street festival in Newmarket – the Festival Italiano!
From 11 am to 4 pm on 25 September, Osborne Street and Kent Street in Newmarket will become pedestrian only, hosting al fresco dining with Auckland’s best Italian restaurants, plus an Italian market with over 30 stalls, live music and entertainment, activities for children, delicious tastings, workshops, Ferrari cars, spot prizes and the chance to win a trip to Italy.
Sir John Kirwan, President of the Dante Alighieri Italian Society of Auckland, the main player behind the Festival, commented: “Festival Italiano reminds me of festivals held all over Italy. It brings out a very Italian gioia di vivere (joy of life) in everyone, and makes us feel that we can all be Italian for a day!”
The Dante Alighieri Society of Auckland organises Festival Italiano in collaboration with the Newmarket Business Association, and the generous support of the Waitematā Local Board. The major corporate sponsor and partner is Peroni.
In June 2016 Festival Italiano was awarded the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Wellington in recognition of the cultural, social and economic value of the event for the Italian community and the City of Auckland.
