Festa of fun: Festa Italiana returns to Lodi this weekend

Jun. 4—The Lodi Grape Festival Grounds will be full of red, white and green Sunday when Festa Italiana returns for its 11th year to celebrate Italian music, food and culture.

With doors opening at 10 a.m. Sunday, attendees will see some familiar faces throughout the grounds, including renowned Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito, who will headline the main stage once again.

Born in Naples, Italy, Esposito has lived in Northern California since 1998 and is known for performing both traditional opera and "pop opera," a genre made famous by performers like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Il Volo.

Esposito has performed at the last four Festa Italiana events, and is sponsored by Lodi residents John and Maxine Ferraiolo who have been friends with him and have encouraged and aided his musical career since he first traveled to the United States.

He's also starred in two PBS specials celebrating his home country, "Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso," which honored his fellow Neapolitan tenor, and a second one took him to piazzas around Italy, where he dedicated a song to each location.

The Balliamo! Italian Dancers will headline in the Pavilion while you stroll and enjoy wine tasting.

Stockton native and opera singer Bianca Orsi will be one of a handful of acts entertaining guests as they taste wines and stroll through the festival grounds.

Orsi is an operatic soprano who performs a variety of pieces during her performances, including Italian opera aria "Quando Men Vo" from La Boheme; a selection of Italian pop songs; and America's greatest hits of the Jazz Era.

She has performed in operas, scenes and concerts for Opera Theater of St. Louis, Opera San Jose, the Stockton Symphony and the Opera Festival in Morelia, Mexico, and has participated in master classes and training programs with Patricia Racette, Ana Maria Martinez, Warren Jones and Ruth Ann Swenson.

Also performing will be Nino, d'Italiano, and the Trucco Band!

Local entertainers like Stockton Garage Combo, Opera Singer Kerri Scott, Louis Lodi, and the Nicolini Brothers on accordions will welcome festival attendees on the Benevenuti Stage, and the "The Bambini Zone," an area for youngsters also returns this year.

The Bambini Zone will feature the clowns Sparkles and Ravioli, Stockton's Rhymosaurs, and the Bambini Dancers, an Italian Cultural dance troupe from Carmichael, who will not only dance, but offer lessons.

In addition, the Funambulus Italian Stilt Walkers will roam the festival grounds.

Music will not be the only part of Italian culture available to enjoy.

A Mercato Marketplace will feature vendors selling merchandise of all things Italian, from gifts to antiques, and the nearby food court will offer up the best in local Italian dining.

Guests can also view a variety of cooking demonstrations, observe Italian art and learn history, play bocce ball and participate in the salami toss, and admire some of the finest Italian automobiles ever made at the festival's car show.

In addition, guests can taste olive oil and other local products, and watch the "Boss of the Sauce" contest, which returns this year.

Sponsored by Pietro's Trattoria, the contest features six different sauces prepared by local chefs. For $5, festival guests will judge the sauces by using Genova Bakery baguettes to dip and taste. Judges will also take home a jar of Bruno's Peppers.

Festival tickets are $20 at the door, 413 E. Lockeford St. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with an adult. For more information, visit festa-italiana.com.