The UK’s largest Italian food festival is coming back to Manchester this summer
The Uk’s largest Italian food festival is coming back to Manchester’s Cathedral Gardens for its sixth year in the city, it has been confirmed.
The free-to-attend Festa Italiana will return to Manchester city centre on the August bank holiday weekend, with its main festival hub located at Cathedral Gardens opposite Victoria train station.
Taking place from 25 to 27 August 2023, the weekend will champion the very best in authentic Italian food, drink, music, and performance, with a host of different street food traders, an artisan market village, chef-led cooking demonstrations and loads more coming down for the weekend.
Promising a varied programme for 2023, this year’s festival will feature workshops, demonstrations, signings and banquets from celebrity chefs and award-winning authors as it continues to evolve.
A passion project dreamt up by Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco with the intention of bringing the Italian community of Manchester together as one, Festa Italiana takes in the very best in authentic food, drink, music, and performance.
The Festa is steeped in tradition, drawing massive inspiration from the incredible festivals in Italy, but also slinging a whole lotta Manc charm into the mix to create a cultural concoction that sets it apart from any other event of its type, anywhere in the world.
The Salvi’s team will be joined at the Festa by some of Manchester’s best Italian street-food vendors and restaurateurs, as well as live musicians and performers on party supply duties.
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Chefs confirmed to appear at the festival so far include Gennaro Contaldo, UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, (Saturday Kitchen, Two Greedy Italians, Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast), Giancarlo Caldesi (Return to Tuscany, Saturday Kitchen, Sunday Brunch), Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno, Masterchef UK 2021 quarter-finalist and ICG Cooking Competition Award winner Sofia Gallo, and Salvi’s owner Maurizio Cecco.
The festival will also introduce a new element this year, as it welcomes Birrificio Angelo Poretti to Manchester to host the ‘ultimate ticketed dining experience’ at its Poretti Grande Tavola.
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Festival goers can pull up a chair and enjoy classic Italian food from Salvi’s and enjoy an authentic Italian lager from Poretti’s Piazza.
Poretti will also have its own dining area at this year’s Festa Italiana where guests can enjoy a delicious sit-down meal with a menu that has been curated to pair perfectly with Poretti.
With more details set to be announced closer to the time, for now, if you’d like to find out more about Manchester’s Festa Italian visit its website here.
Featured image – Festa Italiana