Brisbane’s about to cop a whole lot of Italian flair as Festa Italiana returns to Howard Smith Wharves for two glorious weekends of pasta, pizza, spritzes and sunshine. Running from May 29 – June 1 and again June 5 –8, this free entry riverside festival is set to dish up all the carbs and culture you’ve been craving.
This year’s event will feature some of Australia’s most beloved chefs, including Orazio D’Elia from Sydney’s Da Orazio, who will be serving up signature dishes like rigatoni alla vodka and strozzapreti ai gamberi. Guests can also look forward to Roman-style pizza from Carmine Guarino and a menu curated by Dean Anning from Ciao Papi, including stracciatella with grilled leeks and a rich rigatoni all’amatriciana.
The Main Lawn will become the heart of the festa, with sizzling outdoor grills dishing out porchetta focaccia rolls and succulent pollo al mattone. Meanwhile, an Italian Salumeria pop up will offer freshly made mozzarella, salumi boards, and deli-style eats, adding to the irresistible array of street style snacks.
Of course, no Italian celebration would be complete without a spritz in hand. A dedicated Spritz Bar will be pouring creative takes on the classic cocktail, including Lambrusco spritzes and refreshing white peach Aperol slushies.
Alongside the incredible food and drink, live music and roving performers will bring the laneways to life, while a dedicated Bambino Zone ensures the little ones are entertained with kid-friendly fun.
There’s even a chance to win big, with a sleek ROLL’N moped up for grabs each weekend. Entry is simple, just register on-site during the festival and you could be zipping around town in true Italian style.
For more details, visit howardsmithwharves.com.
WEEKEND 1: Thursday 29th May – Sunday 1st June
WEEKEND 2: Thursday 5th June – Sunday 8th June
OPENING HOURS
THURSDAY/ 3pm – 10pm
FRIDAY/ 3pm – 10pm
SATURDAY/ 11am – 10pm
SUNDAY/ 11am – 10pm
