A community day out with an Italian touch

This year there’s even more reason to celebrate, as the Norton Street Italian Festa commemorates its 30^th anniversary.

Once a religious festival organised by local Italian priests, the Festa has since flourished into an iconic street celebration and community event, attracting around 150,000 people a year.

Why Norton Street, though?

When Italians migrated to Sydney, the majority settled in the suburb of Leichhardt, and much like Melbourne’s Lygon Street, Norton Street became a bustling strip of Italian culture and customs.

One of those migrants was Rachele O’Reilly, who made the move from Grumento Nova (Basilicata) to Leichhardt with her family when she was just 18 months old.

“We got off the boat and we went to Norton Street,” Rachele laughs.

“My uncle had a deli there so that was my first home.”

Decades on, Rachele is now the event organiser of the Norton Street Italian Festa, alongside her husband, Patrick, who she fondly refers to as “the most Italian man you’ll ever meet”.

Patrick grew up in England, but regular family trips to the Belpaese evoked his inner-Italophile at a very young age.

“I did a degree in Roman archaeology at university and then I met and married a fully imported Italian,” Patrick says.

“We still have the house where I was born because Patrick is so fond of that link that he made me buy the others out,” Rachele laughs.

Patrick and Rachele have been running events across Australia for years, and given their strong connection to Italy, it was only natural that the couple said “yes” to taking on the Norton Street Italian Festa five years ago.

“Our brief when we were given the contract to run the event was to get it back to profit, which we did, and also to also maintain the Italian brand,” Patrick says.

“It’s been thriving and getting bigger every year and we’ve brought it back to being more Italian.”

While the festival is still very true to its authentic Italian roots, Patrick and Rachele have made it their mission to also reflect the diverse community of Leichhardt at present and foster an inclusive atmosphere.

Perhaps that’s why the list of things to see and do goes on for days.

Inevitably, food is a major feature of the festival.

This year roomy clothing is a must, as the aroma of homemade gnocchi and traditional pizzas will be too tempting to resist, while the festival’s famous porchette will be selling by the dozen as usual.

Food blogger, Enzo Guarino will be hosting a cooking stage where top local chefs will show us how it’s done in cooking demonstrations, while a second stage will be dedicated to kids’ cooking.

With rides and activities to distract younger festivalgoers, car enthusiasts will also have their own toys to play with, as Pioneers Memorial Park is taken over by the likes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the famous Auto Festa.

The street will be dotted with entertainers, from Italian folk dancers to opera and jazz musicians and, in a festival first, the work of local fashion designers will be showcased at the town hall.

This year’s festival will also promote local soccer, with around 23 local kids’ clubs participating in the day, alongside freestyle football demonstrations and bubble soccer games.

“It’s just a really fun day and there’s something on everywhere you look,” Patrick says.

“Our aim is always to reflect what’s going on right now and to draw everybody together and to try and give them a day of community pleasure,” Rachele adds.

So to all the foodies, fashionistas, football lovers, Ferrari fanatics and families just keen for a fun day out, the Norton Street Italian Festa awaits you!