Get ready to mangia and enjoy a day of music and fun, Italian-style.
The Festa Italiana committee is hosting “Una Giornata Alfresco,” which means “A Day Outdoors” from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.,Saturday, at the Columbo Piazza on Rossland Avenue in Trail.
“We want to come back to our community and bring visibility to our Italian heritage and culture,” said committee member Toni Driutti.
She added that all members of the family are welcome to enjoy “a culinary experience with Italian flavour.”
The day will feature Nonna’s homemade spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, sausages and baking.
For those who like to tip a glass with their pasta, wine will be available along with refreshments for the kids.
Entertainment includes local talent Austin Rafuse on piano; the St Michael’s School Choir; the Harmaniaks; and the Trail Pipe Band.
For children, there will be face painting courtesy of Trail royalty and “Balloon Art” by Lola.
The Festa committee welcomes visitors to bring a lawn chair, although tables will be set up alongside vendor booths.
In case of soggy weather, the committee has arranged to have cover from the elements available.
This year the co-sponsor of the event is Trail Community in Bloom (CiB), whose participation will help to promote the 2013 CiB garden contest.
After a hiatus from event planning, the five-member Festa Italiana group remains passionate and committed to promoting the deep roots of Italian culture embedded in the history of Greater Trail.
The committee intends to make “A Day Outdoors” an annual event that will at least partially fill the hole left by the demise of the Italian cafe at Silver City Days and Festa Italiana, a community fall festival that ran from 1999 to 2006.
“I don’t think the City of Trail does enough to celebrate the Italian culture in our community,” said Driutti.
“And Festa Italiana wants to bring it back.”