Pasta and Sugo Festa in Innisfail

| Gail Sedorkin

JOIN the celebration of Italian food, wine, music and culture at Innisfail’s Pasta & Sugo Festa on Sunday, July 23.

This addition to the 2023 Cairns Italian Festival at the Johnstone Shire Hall in Innisfail promises a day for families and friends to enjoy the best of Italy’s history, food, culture, song and dance.

Bigger and more delicious than last year, this year’s 17-day Cairns Italian Festival will be celebrated across Far North Queensland in Cairns, Mareeba, and at this new event in Innisfail.

Cairns Italian Festival president Steve Cordenos said guests could expect an Italian party like no other at each and every event, including Innisfail’s Pasta & Sugo Festa which runs from 11am to 5pm.

“This year we welcome you to the Johnstone Shire Hall on Sunday, July 23 for the first edition of the Pasta & Sugo (sauce) competition Festa, a new and exciting event for the region filled with lots of laughter, and of course great food and company,” he said.

“A major highlight of the day at the Johnstone Shire Hall is a magnificent feast of Italian antipasto, a buffet lunch and Italian desserts provided by the Innisfail sponsors, Oliveri’s Deli (antipasto), Roscoe’s Pizza Place (buffet) and Sapore Di Italia – Taste of Italy (dessert).

“Come join Attori and celebrate everything that makes Italy so special, with comedy to make you laugh, and the chance to sing along with their powerful voices to popular songs such as ‘La Donna’, ‘Funiculi Funicula’, ‘Volare’, ‘Mambo Italiano’, ‘Il Mondo’ and many more.”

“We are ‘pazzi per la pasta’ (crazy for pasta) and we know that many of our fellow ‘Innisfailians’ have migrated from Italy, so we want to showcase your pasta making skills and spaghetti eating skills.

“We want to see who can create the most delicious and authentic Italian pasta dishes. And don’t worry if you’re not Italian, we welcome everyone to participate.

“Some of Australia’s best homemade pasta and sugo makers will be contesting to take out the prestigious awards and prize money on offer. And of course you can’t have a pasta and sugo day without a spaghetti eating competition challenge.”

During the competition, each person will get a large bowl of spaghetti of identical weight.

Players must eat the spaghetti without silverware and with their hands behind their backs.

The first person to eat all their spaghetti is the winner.

The competitions will delight, as will all the celebrations during this great day in Innisfail.

For more information, competition details and tickets visit www.cairnsitalianfestival.com.au