THE Coffs Coast Italian Heritage Group (CCIHG) is bringing together authentic Italian food, music, history and family entertainment for its inaugural Festa Italiana, with all profits supporting the Coffs Harbour Health Campus Children’s Ward.
The not-for-profit group floated the idea with local businesses and quickly received enthusiastic backing.
With the children’s ward chosen as the beneficiary, major sponsors C.ex Coffs and Geoff King Motors came on board, helping turn the concept into reality.
“We chose Saturday, 22 August because it’s in a lull between other big events on the Coffs Coast,” CCIHG spokesperson Franco Maione told News Of The Area.
“Coffs Racecourse is a great location because it has the auditorium for our heritage display, as well as plenty of space for food trucks, stalls, music and games.”
The festival invites the community to experience the flavours and traditions of Italy.
“We have Italian street food stalls, Italian gelato and chestnut roasting,” Mr Maione said.
CCIHG member Egidio Basso believes the Crostoli stall will prove irresistible.
“Once you start eating them you cannot stop,” he laughed.
“And there’s pasta, salami, sausage panini and porchetta panini.
“When you go to an Italian festival in Italy, this is exactly the type of food you will find,” Mr Maione said.
Entertainment will include piano accordionist Giri Mazzella, Salvatore Rossano and his Bellingen band SUD, and mezzo-soprano Lisa Genovese performing traditional and contemporary Italian favourites.
“We saw Lisa singing at the LisAmore Italian Festival in Lismore – she was great,” Mr Maione said.
Roaming gladiators, a display of Italian cars and motorbikes, children’s face painting and carnival games, a bocce competition, and a host of raffles will keep visitors entertained throughout the day.
The racecourse auditorium will also showcase photographs and stories of pioneering Italian families who settled on the Coffs Coast, alongside a display from the Alpini Group honouring local World War II veterans.
Mayor Cr Nikki Williams and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh will officially open the festival.
By Andrea FERRARI
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