The much-loved Festa Italiana returns to Manchester city centre for its eighth year this summer, ready to welcome thousands of fans to enjoy a slice of la dolce vita. A passion project of Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco, the free-to-enter festival brings together Manchester’s Italian community with a packed programme of chef demos, great music, food and drink.
Taking place from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 August, the festival will takeover Cathedral Gardens, transforming the space into a bustling Italian piazza, filled with the sights, sounds and flavours of Italia. Taking centre stage is, of course, the incredible food line-up. Expect show-stopping live cookery shows from some of the best-loved Italian chefs – including Gennaro Contaldo, Francesco Mattana, Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Carmela Hayes and Salvi’s very own Maurizio Cecco, and then try some Italian delicacies yourself at the various pop-ups around the site.
Wash down the incredible food offering by heading to the Apertivo Bar and enjoy a refreshing spritz in the (fingers-crossed) sunshine-soaked Limoncello Garden. On top of that, there’s brand-new music from traditional folk to modern Italian pop and party anthems as well as immersive pop-ups and interactive masterclasses. Festival founder Maurizio Cecco said: “Festa Italiana is so much more than just a food festival – it’s a celebration of everything I love about my culture: the passion, the hospitality, the flavour, the music, the chaos! Every year it gets bigger, louder and more exciting and 2025 is going to be the best one yet. We’ve got amazing chefs, incredible vendors, fantastic music and some brilliant new surprises. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to our piazza in the heart of Manchester!”
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