On Sunday, October 23, Lygon Street’s Piazza Italia will once again become inundated with people, colours, aromas and tastes, for the famous Carlton Italian Festa.

Although some may fondly remember a time when the entire street was blocked off for a whole weekend of celebration, the festa is still one of Melbourne’s most popular events and marks a significant day on the calendars of both the Italian community and those with a love for our culture.

Actor and performer, James Liotta has been the face of the festa for ten years in his role as MC and entertainer.

According to James, the crowd which forms around the main stage for ten hours of continual music and entertainment becomes more diverse and multicultural every year.

“When I first started, they asked me to try to speak in Italian at times,” James says.

“Now, it’s the opposite, and we almost always speak in English so that we don’t alienate or exclude anyone.”

 Although this event has become adapted to the wider community of Melbourne, its strong Italian influence is evident when scanning through the names listed on the event program.

A name which immediately leaps off the page is that of Anthony Callea, who will be headlining the festa with his sixth album “Backbone” at the festa, following its official launch last month. 

The stage at Argyle Square will showcase singer Sarah Capodicasa and DJs Mark Pellegrini, Jason Serini and Andrea, who will have festivalgoers - both young and old - busting moves well into the evening.

Many fresh talents will also make their debut at this year’s festa, including young Vocal Art Studio singers, Jack Sacchetta, Isabella Smarrelli, Angelica Del Bono, Mikhaela Cugliari, Monica Arena, Natasha Brancatisano and Diana Taranto, who will bring to the stage some contemporary Italian tunes.

For those who can’t resist a good old fashioned love story, the obvious first port of call is the sneak preview of a segment from the Tony Award-winning musical “Light in the Piazza”, set in 1950s Tuscany, which will be showing in full at the Arts Centre at the end of the month.

Great music isn’t the only thing resounding along Lygon Street during the festa; loud laughter will also fill the air.

James Liotta will take a break from his role as MC for a small segment in which he and his actor friend, Piero Viavattene will impersonate Pippo and Pasquale, a new addition to his repertoire.

This year Liotta will also present one of the most renowned Italo-Australian comedians, Joe Avati, who will return to Lygon Street with some of the best bits from his new show “20/20 Vision”, with which he’s currently touring Australia to celebrate 20 years in comedy.

Coincidentally, Liotta is touring with Avati, opening almost all of his performances across most major cities.

A celebration of Italian culture wouldn’t be complete without cars and mouth-watering food.

Jaws will drop on four-wheel fanatics, as owners of the finest Alfa Romeos in Victoria showcase their babies in a display put on by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club.

And as for the foodies, they’ll be spoilt for choice.

Every year, the Carlton Festa attracts the best Italian chefs and cooks from all over Victoria, allowing its thousands of visitors to taste fragrant pizzas made by world champions, refreshing gelati, decadent desserts and so much more.

A little healthy competition never goes astray, which is why the city’s multicultural museums (Greek, Italian, Jewish and Islamic) will present their top chefs in the second Multicultural Museums Cook Off, a showdown between traditional cuisines.

Representing Italy is Aeolian author of Dolci di Casa Nostra, Giulia Biviano.

The detailed program, which will be available shortly on the festa’s website, is rich with activities and attractions for all tastes.

On that note, we suggest you keep October 23 free...and we’ll see you at Piazza Italia!