California Festivals
California Italian Festivals
There are thousands of Italian restaurants serving up pastas and pleasure. Chased down with a fine Italian wine, what could be better? How about an Italian festa celebrating Italy's culture with dancing, Italian songs, and of course–the FOOD!
MONTEREY: Santa Rosalia Fisherman's Festival or Festa Italia
September 11-13, 2026
Custom House Plaza in Downtown Monterey
20 Custom House Plaza
Monterey, CA
Free admission,
festaitaliamonterey.org
Friday 3-9 pm | Saturday 10 am-9 pm | Sunday 10 am -6 pm
Festival entertainment, raffles, bocce tournament, parade, Italian food, beer, wine.
Friday: Dancing under the stars with Lost and Found band
Saturday
- 10 a.m. Mass San Carlos Cathedral and Crowning the Statue of Santa Rosalia
- 11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony Procession to Wharf & Blessing of the Fleet
- 12-1 p.m. Mike Marotta & Friends perform
- 1-1:25 p.m. Cooking Demonstration Gourmet Realtor Chef Tene Shake Classic Fisherman’s Wharf Cioppino
- 1:30-2:30 p.m. Anthony Lane Band
- 2:15 p.m. Tarantella Dancers
- 2:45-3:45 p.m. Pasquale Esposito
- 4-5 p.m. Anthony Lane Band
- 4:30 p.m. Tarantella Dancers
- 5:15-6:15 p.m. Pasquale Esposito
- 6:30-9 p.m. Dancing under the stars with The Money Band
Sunday
- 11-11:30am Tarantella Dance Lessons in front of main stage
- 11:45-12:50 p.m. Anthony Lane Band
- 12:30 Tarantella Dancers (Approximate time)
- 1:30-2:30 p.m. Pasquale Esposito
- 2:45-3:45 p.m. Mike Marotta & Friends
- 3:15 p.m. Tarantella Dancers
- 4-5 p.m. Pasquale Esposito
- 5-6 p.m. Anthony Lane Band
LOS ANGELES: Italian Festival
October 4, 2026, 2-10 p.m.
Hollywood & Highland
1651 Highland Ave.
Hollywood, CA
$10 admission, $35 for wine tasting and $100 for VIP,
thelosangelesitalianfestival.com
Los Angeles Italian Festival features Italian food, music, comedy, beer, wine, bocce ball and entertainment all day long! There will be a Kid's Corner with face painting, balloon animals and lots of fun activities as well as a wonderful shopping section with clothing, gifts, jewelry, collectibles and music CDs!
Entertainment includes:
Debi Raven, a Tribute to Connie Francis
The Italians of Comedy
Ciro Giorgio from Italy
Dave Divoti
Dan Olivo
Tony Ciaramiatro
SAN DIEGO: Little Italy State of the Neighborhood
September 24, 2026, 5:30-9 p.m.
Kilroy's 2100 Kettner
2100 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA
$53.76-65.08, littleitalysd.com
Highlights
- Christopher Gomez, Chief Executive Administrator of the Little Italy Association, presents State of the Neighborhood address, highlighting the Pillars of Little Italy, current initiatives, neighborhood accomplishments, and exciting projects on the horizon.
- Guests receive dinner, dessert, and one complimentary beverage (non-alcoholic or alcoholic with additional beverages available for purchase
- Cocktail hour to mingle and take in breathtaking views of downtown San Diego and the waterfront from the rooftop lanai of Kilroy’s premier office building
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO: Festa Italiana!
Saturday September 19, 2026, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Orange Memorial Park
Celebrate Italian Heritage to kick off the festivities leading into San Francisco's annual Parade and celebration
SAN FRANCISCO: Madonna Del Lume Mass, Blessing of the Fleet and Parade
October 3-4, 2026
- Memorial Ceremony at Sea $10
- Spuntino $10
- Family Dinner Dance & Raffle $95 / Kids $30
On October 3, 2026, experience Light Up the Tricolore in North Beach. Head for Washington Square to join the parade committee in lighting the Italian flag in red and green lights. Listen to live music and maybe dance.
On October 4, 2026 Festa della Madonna del Lume
Memorial Mass at Sts. Peter & Paul Church at 10 a.m.
11:15 a.m. Memorial Ceremony at Sea $10 - memorial wreath ceremony just
beyond the Golden Gate to honor those who have perished or been lost at sea
followed by the fishing boat parade from Pier 43 1/2.
This event is Day 1 of the Annual Festa honoring la Madonna del Lume in San Francisco.
1 p.m. Mass - Spuntino $10
1:45 p.m. Madonna del Lume Parade Line Up
4:30 p.m. Family Dinner / Dance $95-100 adult
facebook.com/pg/MadonnadelLumeSF
SAN FRANCISCO: Italian Heritage Parade
October 11, 2026, 12:30 p.m.
Italian Heritage Italian Columbus Day Parade begins at at Jefferson & Powell in Fisherman's Wharf, proceeding south through North Beach on Columbus Avenue and ends in Washington Square in front of Saints Peter and Paul Church. sfitalianheritage.org
SAN FRANCISCO: Italian Heritage Festival
Saints Peter & Paul Bazaar October 10-11, 2026, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
109tth Annual Saint Peter and Paul Bazaar includes food, shopping and table seating for parade watching. The weekend celebration is entirely volunteer-led, run by the parents of Saints Peter and Paul School. All profits from the event benefit the school, church and other Italian nonprofit organizations.
IL Gran Ballo La Dolce Vita After Dark October 10, 2026
Westin St. Francis San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
$, sfitalianheritage.org
SAN FRANCISCO: San Francisco Festa Coloniale Italiana
May-June
San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
1630 Stockton St.
San Francisco, CA
(415) 781 0166, sfiacfesta.com
SUTTER CREEK: Italian Picnic and Parade
June 7, 2026, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Italian Benevolent Society is the oldest independent Italian Club in the United States. Established in 1881 as charitable institution for aid the Families of the Italian Miners, that worked the in the Amador County gold mining community. Italian Benevolent Society hosts the Annual Italian Picnic & Parade Friday: Carnival | Wine & Olive Oil Tasting | Wineries | Beer | Live Music | Dancing- | Bingo | Bocce | Spaghetti Eating Contest | BBQ. Location: Italian Picnic Grounds, 581 State Highway 49, Sutter Hill, CA. ItalianBenevolentSociety.com
SACRAMENTO Festa Italiana
italiancenter.net
FESTA ITALIANA Voted Northern California's Best Italian Festival!
3730 Auburn Blvd. Sacramento, CA (just one block east of Watt Ave)
Italian food and drink and stellar entertainers in indoor air-conditioned and an
open outdoor Italian Marketplace, a Children's games and rides area, bocce ball,
Italian cars, motorcycles and much more entertainment for the whole family to
enjoy. There are plenty of tables and chairs in this private, shady park-like
setting.
SAN JOSE Italian-American Family Festa
iahfsj.org | italianfamilyfestasj.org
Return of the popular Grape Stomp is on Saturday
GRASS VALLEY Western Gateway Park, Penn Valley, CA nevadacountyitalianfestival.com
LAGUNA NIGUEL La Dolce Vita Italian Festival TBA (probably not having this event anymore)
LOS ANGELES Feast of San Gennaro feastofla.org facebook.com/Feastofla
RANCHO MIRAGE Coachella Valley Italian Festival
desertarc.org
REDDING: Paesano Days reddingsonsofitaly.com
SANTA ROSA North Bay Italian Cultura Foundation TBA
nbicf.org Italian music, food, mercato, bocce, classic Italian
autos.
Hey, mambo by Rosemary Clooney
A girl went back to Napoli
Because she missed the scenery
The native dances and the charming songs
But wait a minute, something's wrong
Hey, mambo! Mambo italiano!
Hey, mambo! Mambo italiano
Go, go, go you mixed up sicialiano
All you calabraise-a do the mambo like a crazy with a
Hey mambo, don't wanna tarantella
Hey mambo, no more a mozzarella
Hey mambo! Mambo italiano!
Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.