Are your tastebuds tingling? That’s because they know that Italian Day is officially returning next week for a massive all-day festival.
Vancouver’s annual celebration of Italian culture, heritage, and community will pack Commercial Drive with partygoers on Sunday, June 9.
Thousands of Vancouverites will take over the East Van neighbourhood as it transforms into a 14-block car-free zone. There will be a record number of participants — including 115 food vendors and trucks, merchants and entertainment — to discover throughout the day-long event.
This year’s theme is Storia, which means “history” or “story” in Italian. The festival explains that Storia is important for people of all ages to discover.
“History creates memories, generating emotional connections with the ability to transcend generations via storytelling,” said the festival on its website. “[It’s] keeping traditions and important values alive, while bridging the past with the present.
“We are drawn to history because its story is our story, where too we can learn from the past to create a better future.”
Italian Day/Facebook
The beloved cultural street festival is known for drawing huge crowds with live performances, all-ages activities, vendors, and of course, delicious food!
We can’t wait to dig into all the incredible Italian eats and treats on offer. Dozens of Italian food, beverage and other related merchants and vendors are expected to participate this year, as well as plenty of European and Latin amici (merchants and vendors).
For the first time ever, you can visit three beverage gardens with full-pour alcoholic beverages. They include the Authentic Italian Table in Grandview Park, The Drive Giardino at Graveley Street, and the Greater Vancouver Beer Truck Piazza on 4th Avenue.
@bellagelateria/Instagram | @viateverepizza/Instagram
From cannoli to pasta bars to wood-fired pizza trucks, there will be a little bit of everything for every kind of taste on The Drive. And don’t be surprised if you get drawn into a dance party on the street.
Other highlights are the fashion shows at Piazza Moda, the RE/MAX Children’s Zone in Grandview Park, a pasta-eating competition for all ages, and Il Centro’s Giovani Talenti talent contest.
Get ready to mangia bene this summer!
When: June 9, 2024
Time: Noon to 9 pm
Where: Commercial Drive (Venables Street to Grandview Highway), Vancouver
Cost: Free