Taste of Little Italy is Excited to be Back at Tradition Square -- Where It All Began!
The long-awaited return of the Taste of Little Italy will celebrate its 15th Anniversary, a year full of gratitude on February 18-20, 2022. The cultural festival known for the Italian ambiance, national Italian American entertainers, and authentic food will be offering free admission in honor of its anniversary to thank the community for all the years of support. The festival will be held where it all began in Tradition Square.
Festival hours throughout the weekend, are: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday. Parking is Free.
Now in its 15th year, the ‘Taste of Little Italy’ presented by Galbani Cheese, promises a weekend filled with entertainment, food, and fun, served up Italian-style! Each year, the ‘Taste of Little Italy’ draws three generations of families on the Treasure Coast with a promise to offer something special for everyone to enjoy and remember as they create memorable moments together that last a lifetime.
“As I reflected on the past 15 years, my heart is full of gratitude for the way in which our community received The Taste of Little Italy. With and knowing all the hardships that all of us experienced one way or another through Covid, I felt it was important for me to make a gesture to show how thankful we are and that we are here for you, and we are one community together” said Jerry Somma, Founder and Producer of the Festival.
Cheers to the next 15 years, we will offer new areas for the festival. The Aperol Spritz Piazza and the Voga Prosecco and Bellini Lounge, a great place to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of The Taste of Little Italy.
Experience national and local chefs that come out to the Taste of Little Italy and demonstrate how to cook specialty Italian dishes. This year, The La Cucina Galbani® Cooking stage will be featured on the main stage runway style leading into the open-air lawn seating for everyone to enjoy. The Galbani “kitchen” with will be filled with nationally known chefs like most notable, Galbani Celebrity Chef Marco Sciortino from the hit TV show “Come Dine with Me,” and local favorites Anthony Acampa from “Fats Where the Flavor is” cooking and presenting the Voga wine seminars, and from Port St. Lucie, Pasquale Lamarra of Meeting Street Steak & Seafood and Pastaio the hottest new restaurants on the Treasure Coast as they create special Italian dishes right before your eyes with cooking demonstrations throughout the weekend!
New this year, you can reserve party options with a Private VIP Villa located near the stage for your enjoyment including a large table, ten seats, complimentary bottle of wine and waiter/waitress service or enjoy reserved pod seating with four chairs, table and including waiter/waitress service.
For the entire family, there will be festival rides and games for all ages. Little Smiles will be on site with fun kid’s activities. Relax and enjoy the festival in the family picnic area sponsored by Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa.
Entertainment
The Taste is pleased to announce the return of its fabulous Master of Ceremonies - Virginia Sinicki, on-air personality from the KVJ show on 979WRMF.
The celebration kicks off on the Mattamy Homes stage with a Friday night freestyle party with Angelo Venuto and featuring Cynthia known with her 90’s hits “Dreamboy/Dreamgirl”, “Change on Me”, “Endless Nights”, and “Thief of Hearts”, and Nyasia with “Who’s Got Your Love”. These electronic sounds will have everyone dancing to the music spinning by DJ Anthony Mangini.
Saturday Night Fever will be in the air with The Original Studio 54 Band (11-piece) performing discos greatest hits. Also performing, from The Voice, pop sensation, Austin Giorgio and from KC and the Sunshine Band, Maria DeCrescenzo.
Sunday at the Taste, headlining will be The Mystics. Come hear music from the 50’s and 60’s that rocked the charts with doo wop hits. The Mystics known for their golden classics “Hushabye,” Don’t Take the Stars,” and more! Also performing will be young sensation, Aviana Rossi and a Taste Favorite, Franco Corso, the voice of romance.
The Food – Now that’s Italian!
With every step you take in Tradition Square, visitors will find food vendors serving up authentic Italian dishes-from fresh pasta, pizza in brick ovens, and sausage and peppers. Then, enjoy not-to-be-missed Italian dessert with homemade zeppole’s with powdered sugar, sfogliatella, and cannoli.
About Little Smiles – The Taste of Little Italy’s official Charity
The Taste of Little Italy is committed each year to support Little Smiles, an organization that works tirelessly to bring smiles to the faces of children by giving kids the chance to be kids during difficult times. The nonprofit provides gifts and fun activities to children impacted by serious illness, homelessness, or tragedy. To learn more, visit www.littlesmilesfl.org
About Galbani Cheese
First crafted in Italy by Egidio Galbani in 1882—Galbani® cheeses have long been the #1 cheese brand in Italy. For over 130 years, Galbani cheese has been delighting families all over Italy. Today the Galbani brand brings its timeless tradition from Italy to the American table with the delicious taste of mozzarella, ricotta, fresh mozzarella, and snack cheese made and sold in the United States. Galbani® cheese is a leading brand of the Lactalis American Group, Inc. (“LAG”). Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, LAG is a subsidiary of Parmalat S.p.A., an Italian public entity majority-owned by France-based Groupe Lactalis - the world's largest producer of premium cheese. LAG produces a wide array of cheese products, including a variety of specialty cheese available to retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. For more info on Galbani, please visit www.galbanicheese.com. ©2018 Lactalis American Group, Inc., Buffalo, NY 14220. Galbani is a ® of Egidio Galbani S.r.l.
About the Taste of Little Italy
It began 15 years ago with a dream and a vision to create an experience rich in Italian culture to share. With family tradition and values at the core of its mission, the Taste continues to serve as the signature event at Tradition that brings together generations in a celebration of marked contributions by great Italians. Through food, music, art, and history, over the three-day-festival, we remain steadfast to encouraging the importance of bringing together the community, rooted in the importance of family. We remain dedicated to staying mindful about the hardships that our ancestors endured in migration to this great country and proud of our Italian American heritage.
Calendar Announcement
The 15th Annual Taste of Little Italy presented by Galbani Cheese – Feb 18-20, 2022, (Friday 4 pm-10pm, Saturday 11 am – 10 pm, and Sunday 11 am – 8 pm at Tradition Square in Port St. Lucie. The celebrated three-day family Italian street festival will have national entertainment, authentic food, festival rides and games, free cooking demonstrations and more. Admission and parking are free. VIP Reserved Pods and Private Villas are available through Eventbrite.com. For more information visit, www.tasteoflittleitaly.net.
