OTTAWA, June 16, 2022 – The 48th Settimana Italiana – Italian Week Ottawa is wrapping up their 10-day festival with their biggest Grand Finale Weekend ever. Italian Week’s Grand Finale Weekend taking place this weekend June 17-19 on Preston Street promises to be bigger than ever thanks to the sponsorship of the Preston Street BIA.
Shannon Whidden, Executive Director of Italian Week Ottawa says, “This year, we’re making the weekend bigger than ever thanks to sponsorship from the Preston Street BIA. With their support, we’re bringing some of the best performers in Ottawa, and beyond, to our main stage on Preston Street.”
Thanks to support from Preston Street BIA, Italian Week is going to feature some of the best performers in Ottawa, and beyond, on the main stage on Preston Street.
Ottawa’s Italian Week Grand Finale Weekend Schedule June 17-19
Ottawa residents have been excited to be back to in-person events; Italian Week’s three masterclasses were sold out and attendees loved learning about charcuterie, focaccia, and Italian wine. The Italian Puzzle Quest brought people out to Preston Street, while families enjoyed a film screening of Pinocchio under the stars.
Lydia Di Francesco, Board Co-Chair of Italian Week Ottawa says, “After two years of producing virtual festivals, it’s great to be back in person again! We are pleased to offer programming about Italian culture that educates, as well as entertains.”
Italian Week Ottawa is thankful for the Ottawa community, in particular the many local businesses, who despite all the hardships they faced, have supported Italian Week Ottawa through sponsorship or donations.
The Grand Finale is going to be jam-packed with entertainment including bands like Marco Calliari and The Commotions, beautiful Italian opera from Pellegrini Opera, comedy from nationally recognized Italian/Canadian comics like Joe Cacchione and Franco Taddeo, and also some of Ottawa’s brightest stars on the DJ scene.
Other things happening during Ottawa’s iconic week-long festival finale are bike races, soccer tournaments, and bocce ball.
Here is a close look at the schedule for the Grand Finale weekend here in Ottawa:
ITALIAN WEEK GRAND FINALE WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, June 17
MAIN STAGE @ 301 Preston St.
6:00 PM – Pellegrini Opera
7:00 PM – Fonte d’Amore Tarantella
8:00 PM – The Jivewires
9:00 PM – DJ Momentum
PRESTON STREET
4:00 – 11:00 PM – Street performers such as artists, stilt walkers, and more!
KIDS ZONE – PLOUFFE PARK
4:00 – 11:00 PM – Kids rides (ziplining, bungee races, and more!), Face Painting, Storytelling
Saturday, June 18
MAIN STAGE @ 301 Preston St.
10:00 AM – Centro Giovanile Formativo Italocanadese Graduation Ceremony
12:00 PM – Comedy with Joe Cacchione
2:00 PM – Talking with your Hands – Italian Gestures Contest
2:30 PM – Pasta-Eating Contest
3:00 PM – Ottawa Fire Services Band and Fonte d’Amore Tarantella
4:00 PM – Rossano Giamberardino
5:00 PM – Performing Arts Contest Winners
6:00 PM – Pellegrini Opera
7:00 PM – Comedy with Franco Taddeo
8:00 PM – Marco Calliari and Band
9:00 PM – DJ Pintal
PRESTON STREET
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM – Street performers such as artists, stilt walkers, and more!
6:00 – 8:00 PM – Ottawa Fire Services Band
KIDS ZONE – PLOUFFE PARK
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM – Kids rides (ziplining, bungee races, and more!), Face Painting, Storytelling
12:00 – 4:00 PM – Bocce Ball open play
ADULT HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FIELD
10:00 – 11:00 AM – Soccer Tournament
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Soccer Tournament
Sunday, June 19
MAIN STAGE @ 301 Preston St.
12:00 PM – Rossano Giamberardino
12:30 PM – Cannoli-Eating Contest
1:00 PM – Fonte d’Amore Tarantella
2:00 PM – Pellegrini Opera
3:30 PM – TYR ONE
4:30 PM – The Commotions
KIDS ZONE – PLOUFFE PARK
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Kids rides (ziplining, bungee races, and more!), Face Painting, Storytelling
12:00 – 4:00 PM – Bocce Ball open play
ADULT HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FIELD
10:00 – 11:00 AM – Soccer Tournament
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Soccer Tournament
PRESTON STREET
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Preston St. Bicycle Races
12:00 – 7:00 PM – Street performers such as artists, stilt walkers, and more!
Younger festival-goers will have a blast at the Kids Zone, which will feature fun rides and activities for the first time at Plouffe Park!
Oh, we almost forgot to mention that the ever-popular pasta eating contest returns to this highly anticipated Ottawa event, a favourite in the nation’s capital since 1977!
The organisers of Ottawa Italian Week encourage all Ottawa residents to come down to Preston Street this weekend and have a taste of what it’s like to be Italian.
Visit italianweekottawa.ca for all event details.
by Ottawa Times staff
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