Festa Italiana Syracuse 2026

Ginnie Lostumbo, founder and leader of the fabulous Festa, started our recent conversation with a big “Thank you!” That was extended to everyone, from the hard-working volunteers, to the talented performers, superb cooks, fascinating story-tellers, and every visitor, sponsor and friend who has made the 28-years-and-counting festival one of the most popular in central New York.

“Where can I start?” she added, as she began to describe what the planners and organizers had in store for us this year. “The Heritage Display has a new home,” she began. “It’s now the Heritage Tent, and it will be right in the center of the event, next to “It’s a Utica Thing,” and across from Vito’s.”

Without intending to, Lostumbo had just added one important reason why Festa Italiana is such a highly-anticipated event in the late summer/early fall in Syracuse: the food!

As usual, your favorite Italian foods will be available from any number of restaurants, bringing you an authentic taste of Italy, and taste of Italy via the American experience – which is to say, some of the best food ever prepared. New to the festival this year are Christiano’s Kitchen, Mamacita’s Italian Roots, and Zeppole King.

Visitors can stroll the grounds trying to decide which of the many delicious treats they plan to taste, and enjoy the sounds of Paolo and Felice, minstrels who walk the area with you, accompanying your adventure with traditional Italian folk music, serenades, and classic regional ballads on mandolin and accordion.

And each evening, look forward to one of the great Syracuse area bands and entertainers, from Atlas, Prime Time and The Horn Dogs on the main stage to The Custom Taylor Band and Dunes and The Del-Tunes on the small stage. From mid-day til closing you’ll find lots to enjoy!

The new opening ceremony features a flag raising with Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens, and from that point on the fun, food and entertainment are non-stop!

Punctuating each day are events like the Charity Meatball Challenge – join the challenge, eat the most meatballs, and you’ll have $500 donated to your selected charity in your name!

Or maybe Biscotti is more to your taste? Contact the festival at festa.italiana@aol.com to enter the Biscotti Contest – the first ten signed up will compete to find out who can bake the best biscotti!

Not just for the kids, though it is a favorite, Buddy the Clown will be making balloon animals, and a mime will fascinate everyone, young and old.

We noted earlier that the Heritage display and activities have moved to a dedicated tent central to the event. There you’ll find Italian Bingo contests, and on Saturday of the Festa, Bob and Marie Leogrande will show you how to make Spinach Lasagna Rollups!

At 1:30pm Saturday in the Heritage Tent, Ned Claridge will show you how to plant and grow a fig tree in honor of the Italian Diaspora tradition of bringing a fig tree or cuttings with immigrants from the old country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and planting them in their new backyards and gardens here in the U.S. Eric Rose will be making fig jam, and Marie from Wegman’s will be serving samples of an appetizer featuring fig jam with cheese.

Laura Hand and Frank Riccardiello will present a talk on “La Feste,” about holiday celebration in Italy, and at 4:30pm on Sunday, join in the fun at the Biscotti contest!

Saturday September 19th @ 9am (Register by 8am) is the much-anticipated Bocce Tournament, offering a first place prize of $500, and open to Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Teams.

And throughout the event, you will find booths, memorabilia and food to take home, demonstrations, live raffles, street performers, old friends and new, and a lot of great reasons to plan on being back again next year!

Entertainment Schedule

Friday September 18, 2026

MAIN STAGE

4:30 pm | Brass Inc.

6:30 pm | The Ripcords

9:00 pm | Prime Time Horns

Strolling 6pm–8pm Paolo & Felice

SMALL STAGE (Fayette Street)

11:30 am | Just Joe

1:30 pm | Italian Music

4:00 pm | The Strangers

6:30 pm | Billionaires

9:00 pm | Soul Injection

Saturday September 19, 2026

MAIN STAGE

11:30–1:00 pm | John Vona singing Italian songs

1:30 pm | Soul Mine

4:00 pm | Ménage A Soul

6:30 pm | Infinity

9:00 pm | Horn Dogs

Strolling 12pm–6pm Venetian Mum’s the Mime
Strolling 3pm–5pm Paolo & Felice

SMALL STAGE (Fayette Street)

12:00 pm | Mark Macri

2:00 pm | The Band UNCLE

4:30 pm | Dunes & The Del-Tunes

7:00 pm | Dangerous Type Band

9:00 pm | Bad Husbands Club

Sunday September 20, 2026

MAIN STAGE

11:00 am | Open Air Mass with Bishop Lucia

1:00 pm | CMC Dance Company

2:30 pm | Gold Dust Gypsies

5:00 pm | Atlas

Strolling 12pm–5pm Venetian Mum’s the Mime
Strolling 2pm–4pm Paolo & Felice

SMALL STAGE (Fayette Street)

12:00 pm | Nino Samiani & Mike Caruso

1:00 pm | Mark Macri & Funk Junkies

2:45 pm | Custom Taylor Band

5:00 pm | Monkey Fever

September 18-20, 2026

In front of City Hall, Downtown Syracuse

2026 Festival Hours:

Friday 9/18 | 11am–11pm

Saturday 9/19  | 11am–11pm

Sunday 9/20 | 12pm–7pm

Sunday Mass | 11am (Bishop Lucia will celebrate)

festaitalianasyracuse.org

Nancy Roberts