Purchase your ticket to Italian entertainment, food, culture and fun July 22-24, 2016 on Milwaukee’s lakefront!

Don’t miss soprano prodigy Jackie Evancho headling Festa Italiana Sunday, July 24 on the BMO Harris Pavilion. The 16-year old singing sensation first dazzled American television audiences at age 10 on “America’s Got Talent.” Her unique, gorgeous, soprano voice has won her millions of fans all over the world. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.

Other headliners include: BOSTYX featuring David Victor formerly of BOSTON, John Michael Coppola’s A Jersey Voice and THE FOUR C NOTES Recreating the Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Hotel California: The Original Tribute to The Eagles, The Bronx Wanderers return all three nights, The Sicilian Tenors, Brooklyn-born singing and comedy brother duo Will & Anthony, Dean Martin Tribute featuring Joe Scalissi, The Russo Brothers, Tony Spavone and more! Don’t miss a special 5th Quarter Performance from the UW Marching Band for Wisconsin Fans! Go Bucky!

The popular Flag-Throwers of the Florentine will return to Festa 2016 with a colorful show that brings history to life! You can’t be Italian without enjoying opera. Milwaukee’s own Florentine Opera will return all three days of Festa. Don’t miss their performance of two of Italian Opera’s greatest masterpieces – Act 4 of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto and Act 3 of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme.

Eat and sip your way through Italy! Classic Italian fare and wine tastings will return, along with the popular Cucina Showcase featuring local chef demonstrations. Of course the popular Chef’s Choice Recipe Contest, Kids Pizza Making Contest and annual Cannoli Eating Contest will all return.

Enjoy your ticket to fun and take a romantic gondola ride, play a game of bocce ball, enjoy the FREE carnival rides with the whole famiglia, watch the Copa Festa Italiana Futsal tournament, partake in Italian Idol and don’t miss the best Bartolotta Italian-style fireworks in the sky every evening!

Father Michael Hammer will lead this year’s traditional Sunday Mass in the Marcus Ampitheater beginning at 11 a.m. Gates open at 10:15 a.m. and donations to Hunger Task Force are strongly encouraged. The Mass is followed by a procession of societies and patron saints, concluded with a benediction.

Join in Italian culture! Visit the new Piazza open market and experience Italian art, food, history, Italian Cinema, religious artifacts and vintage Italian photo display. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, explore the region Umbria and visit the Pompeii Church Exhibit which was built by Milwaukee’s immigrant Italian’s as a tribute to the Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church.
New this year Festa hosts the Lombardi 3K Walk/5K Run to Tackle Cancer on Saturday, July 23! Grab your friends and family and help #TackleCancer. Free admission into Festa for runners and walkers.

Tickets for Festa Italiana are now on sale. Purchase your advance ticket for $10 now through July 21 at http://www.festaitaliana.com. Tickets are $13 at the Gate. Children 12 and under free. Special Buy 1 Ticket Get 1 Free at the Gate Friday, July 22. Former and active military, firefighters, law enforcement and teachers and one guest get in free Sunday, July 24.