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Little pieces of Italy to pepper Heritage Square in Phoenix
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski vendors and Romolo D’Amico will make The cobblestone streets of Heritage Square will be peppered with art, food and musicians when the Italian Festival moves his famous carbonara. It’s an amazing dish to demonstrate onstage. We’ll have vendors selling traditional pasta sauces, clothing and olive oil.” Live performances will include Sbandieratori del Palio di Asti (flag from Scottsdale to Downtown Phoenix wavers) from the city of Asti in Saturday, February 26, and Sunday, Piemonte, and an art gallery with local February 27. and international Italian art.
“We really look for ways to make it a Margherita Fray, a 94-year-old artist, true, authentic Italian experience,” says will show off her talents in the gallery. Francesco Guzzo, Italian Association of “She’s bringing some of her pieces of Arizona’s executive director. art and her books,” Guzzo says. “Her
“We want you to feel like you’re walking books have been translated in English into a little piece of Italy with the vendors, and in Italian. That’ll be incredible just entertainment, the food and art displays. to have her there and be part of the Those are all things meant to share the community and sign books.” Italian tradition, but we also want to Blue Door Ceramics’ Christiane give people a sense of how much Italians Barbato will display her artwork, while contribute to the fabric of Arizona.” Paolo Cosanti pieces will be available, too.
This year’s festivities begin at 11:30 Sunday, the flag wavers and vendors a.m. Saturday with a parade and opening return and, like Saturday, they are ceremonies. The day continues with live sponsored by Galbani, Peroni, PepsiCo, entertainment and food — gelato, pizza, Acqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Chelly, sausages, pasta, cannoli, wine and other DTPHX, Desert Rose Worldwide delicacies. Transportation and Great Value
“The food is the standard part of the Vacations. festival,” Guzzo says. “We call it ‘the “The flag wavers are excited about this,” authentic true Italian food.’ We don’t even he says. “They’re the traditional group allow fettuccine alfredo. It’s not an Italian that represents the city of Asti in world dish. A lot of people don’t know that. competitions in flag waving. They’ve been
“We have vendors — pasta and pizza doing it for 60 years in Asti.
“All the colors they wear are representative of the different boroughs. It’s quite significant.”
This year, Guzzo says, antique restored Italian vehicles will drive into Heritage Square. Vespas and Italian bicycles from Scottsdale’s Cyclologic will be on display.
“Everything coming out of Italy has an artistic flair to it,” Guzzo says. “Ferraris, Lamborghinis or Bugattis are all pieces of art, even though they’re automobiles.
“It’s a well-choreographed event. There’s always something interesting or exciting happening. Throughout the day, when people come in, they’ll see something of interest. There’s never a dull moment.”
ENTERTAINMENT GALORE
Galbani will host a demonstration stage, and mixologists will teach patrons to make creative drinks with limoncello and Pellegrino. Many of the sponsors are sending their national representatives to check out the festival.
“We’re working on making it as interesting as possible for everyone,” Guzzo says. “We want to attract families and people of all ages. For the kids, we have balloon artists and the face painter.
“For the grown-ups, we have the demonstrations, the entertainment by The Sicilian Band from LA. They will play traditional Italian songs on Saturday and Sunday. We have Steve Ansel & the Jackson Street Band, a full eight-piece orchestra to play traditional jazz that people love.”
Saturday night is for eating and dancing to the band Element. The opera singers D Gala will perform on both days, closing out the festival on Sunday.
Organizers are mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic and deem Heritage Square safe, with its outdoor seating. Cleaning crews will be working diligently to sanitize the area. Face masks will be available at the entrance.
“We’re doing what we can to make sure everything is comfortable,” Guzzo says. “We want people to enjoy the entire day without feeling like there’s a concern in any way. It’ll be fun. The whole thing is catered to make sure everyone has fun and enjoys themselves.”
Heritage Square is new to the Italian Festival. Previously, the festivities were held at the Scottsdale Waterfront.
“It’s a beautiful part of Scottsdale, but we ran out of space,” he says. “There was only room for 5,000 people a day to come through there.
“Phoenix had been courting us about hosting the festival there. This year, we decided to host it at Heritage Square in Downtown Phoenix. The space allows for typically three times the number of people we would normally get. It has the greenery — grass and trees — cobblestone roads and courtyards. It lends itself to creating a cozy space for a beautiful event like the Italian Festival.”
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, February 26, and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, February 27 WHERE: Heritage Square, corner of East Adams and North Seventh streets, Phoenix COST: $15; free for children ages 12 and younger INFO: italianfestivalaz.com
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CALENDAR
By Annika Tomlin
Lunar New Year
TO FEBRUARY 16 In honor of the Year of the Tiger, Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill and Ling’s Wok Shop will celebrate with food specials and Lion and Dragon Dance performances from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, February 4 (Ling’s Wok Shop) and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 5 (Ling & Louie’s). The offerings at Ling & Louie’s are Cheers to You for two people ($60) and Tiger Feast for four ($150). Each offers three courses with food that represents traditional Lunar New Year foods. Ling’s Wok Shop will have Good Fortune Noodz for $21.
Ling’s Wok Shop, 20511 N. Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale, Ling & Louie’s, 9397 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, various times, lingswok.shop, lingandlouies.com, $21-$150
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Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, bit.ly/3HQezQ6, $12
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Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Chandler, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, bit.ly/3HQezQ6, $12
Roaring Fork Dinner on Us
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Roaring Fork, 4800 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 4 p.m., roaringfork.com, $20-$28
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Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., caesars.com/harrahs-ak-chin/ restaurants, $70 per couple
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Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., saaca.org, $5, 10 and younger free
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Various restaurant locations, devourphoenix.com, $95-$200
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Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 178 E. Commonwealth Avenue, Phoenix Seltzerland
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State Farm Stadium, Sportsman’s Park, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, various times, eventbrite.com, $35-$55
