Festa Italiana

Ciao a Tutti!

We will have the family name t-shirts tomorrow ready to go at the ICC!
This weeks office hours: Wednesday-Friday 10:30-4 pm.

We will also be there on Thursday this week in the evening from 6-8pm also for pick up. More dates and times to come for next week.

All mail orders are being shipped on Thursday, June 25th.

We can't wait to see everyone at Festa!

Meet Melinda Myers!!! Come see her at the Cucina Showcase at Festa teaching us how to grow amazing tomatoes.

Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has over 35 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening, the Midwest Gardener's Handbook (2nd Edition), and Jackson and Perkins’ Beautiful Roses Made Easy. She hosts the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” program airing on over 50 radio stations throughout the U.S. Melinda also hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” Instant Video series, including the latest Food Gardening for Everyone. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes a nationally syndicated garden column. She appears regularly as a guest expert on national and local television and radio shows.

Please be aware of the new bag policy that affects all festivals held on Henry Maier Festival Park grounds.

SEE YOU IN 17 DAYS!!!!

Chef Pasquale Di Diana is an acclaimed Chicago-based chef, speaker, and author recognized for bringing the authentic flavors, history, and heart of Italian cuisine directly to diners. As the culinary force behind Trattoria Roma Napoli Bari (RNB Chicago) and Italian Experience Chicago, he specializes in high-end private chef services and curated catering. Rooted in deep family traditions, Chef Pasquale’s journey in the culinary industry spans decades, heavily shaped by his family's history founding the original Bacci Pizzeria in Chicago's Little Italy in 1996. He has built a reputation centered around exceptional ingredients and a deep culture of hospitality.

Cucina Chef Highlight!

We are pleased to have Chef Pasquale Di Diana at Festa Italiana!

Chef Pasquale Di Diana is an acclaimed Chicago-based chef, speaker, and author recognized for bringing the authentic flavors, history, and heart of Italian cuisine directly to diners. As the culinary force behind Trattoria Roma Napoli Bari (RNB Chicago) and Italian Experience Chicago, he specializes in high-end private chef services and curated catering. Rooted in deep family traditions, Chef Pasquale’s journey in the culinary industry spans decades, heavily shaped by his family's history founding the original Bacci Pizzeria in Chicago's Little Italy in 1996. He has built a reputation centered around exceptional ingredients and a deep culture of hospitality.

With Trattoria RNB, Chef Pasquale shifts the spotlight to cucina casareccia, the soul of comforting, homemade Italian cooking. His specialized menus are heavily inspired by his extensive travels through Italy's most celebrated food regions, pulling unique techniques and flavors from Rome, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Bari. This dedication to authentic regional cuisine has earned him recognition among the Top 100 Emerging International Italian Chefs. He has shared his culinary expertise on major broadcast platforms, including regular appearances on WGN Morning News and Fox Morning News in Chicago, and his elite services have made him a trusted choice for high-profile clients, including the Golden State Warriors.

What truly distinguishes Chef Pasquale is his emphasis on storytelling and hyper-personalization. Rather than simply delivering a meal, he transforms each gathering into an immersive cultural experience, live-cooking and interacting with guests to share the rich history, geography, and cultural context behind every ingredient and regional recipe.

Festa Menu Highlights!!!

Nadia is a first-generation Italian-American with a lifelong passion for food and the way it can bring people together. Shortly after her parents, Pasquale and Marianna Santaniello, came to America in the early 1960s from Naples, they opened their own restaurant focused on providing a warm, family-like atmosphere with the comforting and familiar tastes of southern Italy.

After 25 years in the family business, she ventured into the corporate world and made a name for herself at major food & beverage companies across the Midwest.

Now, with Nadi Plates, she’s heading out on her own to combine her traditional Italian restaurant experience and business savvy with her knowledge of a changing culinary landscape. Born out of her kitchen, she’s twisting time-honored Italian recipes with modern flair, and breathing new life into historical dishes. Whether it’s a vegan lasagna that doesn’t taste like cardboard, or a gluten-free pizza for people who don’t hate themselves, Nadi Plates is all about having fun with food without losing the authenticity. And it’s about treating people like family, as Italians do.

Entertainment Highlight!!!

Milwaukee’s longest running amateur vocal competition will celebrate its 19th year at Festa Italiana 2026. Produced, directed and hosted by Sandy Winard, Italian Idol is a Festa favorite. The show has vocalists performing for a panel of judges for a total of $1,000 in cash prizes, and the coveted title of “Italian Idol”. In addition to a song of their choice, competitors will also perform a song of this year’s featured artist, Neil Diamond. Former Italian Idols and surprise guests will also be performing.

Cucina Chef Highlight!

Teresa Balistreri - Chef and Co-owner of SALA Modern-Sicilian.

Stepping into SALA — Modern Sicilian Dining feels less like entering a restaurant and more like being welcomed into a living family history. Opened in 2001 by siblings Anthony Balistreri and Teresa Balistreri Warsh, this neighborhood gem bridges the gap between old-world heritage and contemporary culinary artistry. Here, generation-spanning Sicilian recipes are brought to life using fresh herbs harvested directly from their on-site Hampshire Street greenhouse. The kitchen crafts a narrative of comfort and inclusion, seamlessly balancing rich, scratch-made pastas, hand-tossed pizzas, premium steaks, and fresh seafood alongside vibrant, intentional vegan and vegetarian dishes. At SALA, every plate tells a story of food, respect, and family.

FESTA VENDOR SPOTLIGHT!!!

Scrima's Pizza and Catering was founded by Joe Scrima who had a passion for handcrafted pizzas and community connection. Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, they pride themselves on using only the finest ingredients, including Wisconsin Grande Mozzarella, to create unforgettable dining experiences.