The inaugural Galbani Festa Italiana of Wellington will be held at the Wellington Amphitheater on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30. The event will create an experience rich in Italian culture through food, music, art and tradition. Food booths will serve all the Italian favorites, including sausage and peppers, pasta, pizza, Italian ice, zeppoles and more.
There will be stage entertainment all weekend on the Beachside Golf Cars stage, and the mistress of ceremonies will be Virginia Sinicki of the KVJ Show on 97.9-WRMF. Performing will be Italian American entertainers or tributes to them all day, Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday night will feature Blonde Ambition, a tribute to Madonna. Sunday will feature A Rat Pack tribute. Other performers include “The Sinatra Songbook” with Tony Quaranti, Angelo Venuto, Philippe Harari, acclaimed entertainer Anthony Nunziata and tenor Elio Scaccio.
Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. Special VIP seating includes reserved stage pods with a table and seating for four people and VIP villas that include a 10-foot-by-10-foot tent, table and seating for eight for purchase at Eventbrite.com. Both offer cocktail service.
A few specific areas to highlight are the Aperol Spritz Piazza, which will be the place to be seen. Toast to your Italian American heritage with a Birra Moretti Italian beer in the Moretti Beer Garden. In addition, there will be the Schumacher Auto Group family picnic area, where festival goers can sit and eat while enjoying the concerts.
Another highlight is the La Cucina Galbani cooking stage featuring nationally known chefs, including Galbani celebrity chef Marco Sciortino. Known for his dynamic personality and culinary mastery, Sciortino will highlight his signature dishes, blending authentic Italian flavors with innovative twists. He will feature mouthwatering creations highlighting the rich heritage and exceptional quality of Galbani products.
Local favorites Anthony Acampa from “Fat’s Where the Flavor’s At” and many others will also be featured. Do not miss a taste of the free Voga Italia wine seminars by wine connoisseurs throughout the weekend. The Sicilian Oven will host a pizza-eating contest on Saturday, and Galbani will host the celebrity cheese stacking competition for charity.
For the entire family, there will be festival rides and carnival games for all ages. Little Smiles will be on site with fun activities for kids. Little Smiles is the official festival charity. This nonprofit organization works tirelessly to bring smiles to children’s faces by allowing them to be kids during difficult times. To learn more, visit www.littlesmilesfl.org.
Festival organizers thank inaugural sponsors Galbani, Beachside Golf Cars, Schumacher Auto Group, Aperol Spritz, American Bath and Shower, Stormtight Windows, Birra Moretti, Voga Italia, the Mall at Wellington Green, Fat’s Where the Flavor’s At, and Tom Cerrito of Cerrito Electric, who spearheaded getting this festival to Wellington.
Admission is $5, with children 12 and under admitted free with an adult. Special VIP seating is available at Eventbrite.com. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. To learn more, visit www.wellingtonfestaitaliana.com.
Since its beginnings in the foothills of the Italian Alps in 1882, Galbani has steadily grown into Italy’s top cheese brand. The brand was acquired by Lactalis in 2006 and has brought its reputation for authentic Italian flavor and quality to American consumers since 2013. For more information, visit www.galbanicheese.com or follow Galbani on Instagram and Facebook.
