San Diego Sicilian Festival

Annual Sicilian Festival has merged with Little Italy Festa which also is not planned for 2017

Is free fun for families

India Street from Ash to Grape Streets
San Diego, CA

The annual Sicilian Festival celebrates all things Sicilian in the heart of San Diego's Little Italy, including music, dance, culture and cuisine from 10 am-6 pm.

Don't miss this event, but if you do, be sure to make a date for the Little Italy Festa held in October.

Three music stages and a beer garden are included in the Festival, which will occupy India Street from Ash to Grape Streets. Emmy Award winning Giada De Laurentiis will offer cooking demonstrations at an outdoor mobile kitchen. Giada is an Italian cooking sensation who has combined culinary training with personable charm to become a celebrity chef on the Food Network, the "Today" show, and venues all over the world. A noontime parade of dozens of costumed dancers, musicians, and representatives of the Italian organizations in San Diego highlights the full day of music, food, and fun.

More special attractions for visitors include a real grape stomp and a pasta-eating contest. In addition to free admission, the Sicilian Festival also offers a free shuttle service to and from the parking area in the north lot of the County Administration Building.

Joining many of Little Italy's restaurants in presenting Sicilian culinary specialties will be Tarantino's Sausages, and many other vendors. Festival visitors will also be able to shop among the many booths offering Italian-themed artifacts and services.

A Sicilian cultural tent will feature photo and cultural displays by local authors and artisans that reflect the Sicilian American heritage in San Diego. The area will also feature displays of such venerable Sicilian traditions as fish net repair, embroidery, produce and fish markets, and more, organized by the ConVivio Society of San Diego.

Free children's activities include a large inflatable slide, puppet theatre shows, face painting, children song and dance productions, and more.

The nationally-acclaimed entertainment offerings include a repertoire from Italian and Sicilian music to swinging Sinatra and Louie Prima styles. The stages of the festival will also feature the Screamin' Primas in a lively salute to Sicilian-descended trumpeter and bandleader Louie Prima, plus Daniele Spadavecchia and his local gypsy band, Sicilian Swing, along with strolling accordionists, dancers, artisans, and amusements.

FREE SHUTTLE will be available. Park in the NORTH lot of the County Administration Building and look for the double-decker bus that will take you to the Festival. The San Diego Trolley stops within one block of the Festival.

The Sicilian Festival started in 1993 to celebrate the cuisine, music, art, and cultural traditions brought to San Diego by Sicilian immigrants.


Giovanna Bona - 619-993-9550 - romanholiday@cox.net or sicilianfestival.org

Other heritage festivals in California include the Scandinavian Festival in Thousand Oaks; Swedish Festival in Kingsburg; Danish Festival in Solvang; Greek Festival in Anaheim; Scottish Festival in Long Beach and Tet Festival in Garden Grove.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.