It’s kind of a big weekend for Tampa Bay, between “Eras Tour” shows, gearing up for a Lightning playoff run, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival (okay, you get the picture). But we’d be remiss not to highlight one of Tampa’s longstanding community events: Festa Italiana Tampa.
The Ybor City festival honors the area’s Italian heritage with a weekend of bocce, vino, and Parmigiano galore — benefiting the Italian Club Building & Cultural Trust.
This year’s festival is booked for Saturday, April 15-Sunday, April 16. Here’s a breakdown of the main events:
- Head to Centennial Park on Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for a jaunty round of Bocce & Bellinis. This free (and family friendly) event takes place alongside the neighborhood’s Saturday market and features frozen Bellinis and the Sponsor Bocce Invitational.
- Eataly who? Stop by the Mercato Italiano at the Italian Club of Tampa on Saturday from 12-6 p.m. for the pasta bar serving Cacio & Pepe, Pasta alla Norma, and more, plus street food tastings, live cooking demonstrations, and our favorite, the sweets buffet. Bring a tote — and maybe a freezer bag — for your haul.
- Finish out the weekend with Sunday’s Winefest of Italy. The main event includes a massive wine tasting with more than 100 varieties, tasty eats from Cena’s, Bavarro’s, and Flor Fina, plus a silent auction for decadent local dining experiences.
Read more about the festival + book tickets online.
We recommend carpooling and taking the TECO Streetcar system if you can — the city will likely be pretty clogged Saturday night. Follow the festival on Instagram for updates + more info.
