FESTITALIA is BACK in 2025 –
AND IT'S MORE DELICIOUSLY ITALIAN THAN EVER
One of Queensland's most beloved cultural festivals is BACK and it's bringing the heart and soul of Italy with it. After eight year, FESTITALIA returns to Brisbane this Father's Day, Sunday September 7, transforming the RNA Showgrounds into a vibrant Italian playground of flavour, flair, music, food and family.
A celebration of Italian heritage, FESTITALIA has long been a treasured community event, remembered for its dazzling entertainment, authentic food, and that unmistakeable feeling of Italian joy – allegria.
"With a brand new home at the RNA Showgrounds, Festitalia is back with all the things we've missed: dancing the Tarantella, pizza acrobatics, Nonna's Kitchen stalls, opera singers, traditional folk bands, and so much more. FESTITALIA is more than a festival – it's a love letter to Italian culture," said Comm. The Hon Santo Santoro. "It's a day that captures the sights, sounds, and soul of Italy – right here in Brisbane."
This year's program reads like a who's who of Italian-style entertainment:
- Opera stars and folk bands including Raffaele Pierno and Zumpa
- Traditional dancers performing the iconic Tarantella – with a chance for everyone to learn!
- World-class pizza acrobatics with Youssef Ben Touati
- Theatre and roaming acts like Homunculus Theatre's Pulcinellas
- Young guitar prodigy Henry Catania
- Performances by Divina Opera, Latinissima, Diletta and Dan, and more!
Of course, it wouldn't be FESTITALIA without the food – and there's plenty of it. Think wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, espresso bars, fine Italian wines, gelato carts, and food stalls dishing up regional specialties and family recipes passed down through generations.
There'll be competitions like Best Dressed Italian Dad, Nonna's Slipper Throw, and Dad with the Biggest Pancia (belly!), along with old-school games like Tira Molla (tug of war) and Italian-style musical statues. Families can explore everything from a petting zoo and kids' games to a Roman military camp, vintage Italian car displays, Prima Spada fencing lessons, and of course, the ever-popular Nonna's Kitchen.
Mr Santoro said the Italian community has been a vital thread in the social, cultural and economic fabric of Queensland.
"From the post-war migration boom of the 1950s and '60s to today's proud Italo-Australian families, Italian Queenslanders have made enormous contributions to agriculture, construction, cuisine, small business, and the arts. Towns like Stanthorpe, Ingham, and Brisbane's inner north echo with Italian heritage – in the vineyards, the delis, the churches, and the kitchens. But beyond the visible, it's the values – family, community, hard work, and allegria – that continue to shape the state. Events like Festitalia don't just celebrate Italy; they celebrate the strength, legacy and ongoing influence of one of Queensland's most passionate and tight-knit cultural communities," he said.
Whether you're Italian by blood, by love, or simply by appetite – FESTITALIA is back, and it's better than ever. Brisbane: get ready to shout Evviva! and celebrate Father's Day the Italian way.
FESTITALIA 2025 Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Father's Day) – at the RNA SHOWGROUNDS Tickets on sale now at www.festitalia.com.au
10 Italian Words You Need to Know for FESTITALIA
(because shouting "evvai!" with confidence is part of the fun)
1. Ciao (chow) – Hello and goodbye. Say it like a local – with flair and a little wave. You'll hear this every five seconds at Festitalia.
2. Grazie (GRAHT-see-eh) – Thank you. Say it to Nonna when she hands you pasta. Say it again when she gives you seconds.
3. Evviva! / Evvai! (ev-VEE-vah / ev-VAI) – Hooray! / Let's go! The perfect thing to yell with a wine in hand.
4. Nonna (NON-nah) – Grandma. The real boss of any Italian family (and kitchen). Respect.
5. Mangia! (MAHN-jah) – Eat! You'll hear it. You'll do it. You'll love it.
6. Gelato (jeh-LAH-toh) – Ice cream, but fancier. Smoother, richer, and definitely not "just ice cream."
7. Tarantella (tah-rahn-TEL-lah) – Traditional Italian dance. Fast footwork, clapping, and absolute joy. Join in – or just admire. See below for it's crazy origin story!
8. Amore (ah-MOH-ray) – Love. What you'll feel after your second slice of woodfired pizza.
9. Bravo/Brava (BRAH-vo / BRAH-vah) – Well done! Yell it after a performance. Or after Dad wins "Biggest Pancia."
10. Pancia (PAN-chah) – Tummy or belly. As in: "Who's got the biggest one?" (Yes, that's an actual competition.)
Things You Must Try at FESTITALIA
(Yes, Nonna would 100% approve)
1. Watch the Pizza Acrobatics You've seen pizza tossed – but not like this. Catch Youssef Ben Touati flipping dough like a circus act. It's fast, it's flying, and it smells like heaven.
2. Dance the Tarantella (or at least clap along) Jump in and learn Italy's most iconic folk dance – no talent required! The Festitalia Tarantella Dance Troupe will teach you the moves in 5 minutes flat. Skirts will swirl. Joy will erupt.
3. Visit Nonna's Kitchen An absolute must. Traditional recipes, simmering sauces, the smell of garlic in the air... and Nonna's watching to make sure you clean your plate. Don't argue – just eat.
4. Say Ciao to the Pulcinellas Keep an eye out for these cheeky, masked characters from Italy's old-school street theatre. Performed by Homunculus Theatre, they'll charm kids, crack up adults, and may or may not start a mock swordfight.
5. Soak up the live Italian vibes Opera, folk, guitars, and roaming musicians – it's a musical feast! Make time for performers like Raffaele Pierno, Zumpa, and Divina Opera – and shout "Bravissimo!" with gusto.
Bonus: Enter the Dad-with-the-Biggest-Pancia Comp It's Festitalia, it's Father's Day, and yes – this is an actual competition. Pancia = belly. May the biggest one win.
The Wild History of the Tarantella (Yes, it started as a spider dance)
Long before it became the joyful, foot-stomping, hand-clapping celebration we know today, the Tarantella was actually a cure — or so people believed.
Back in Southern Italy, mostly around Puglia and Naples, it was said that if you were bitten by a tarantula (or more likely a local wolf spider), the venom would make you fall into a hysterical trance. The only known remedy? Music. Local musicians would play a frantic rhythm and the afflicted would dance wildly — spinning, stomping, shaking — until they sweated out the poison. It was believed the dance released the venom, the madness, or sometimes even... heartbreak.
Over time, the medical myth faded, but the dance lived on – evolving into the vibrant, joyous folk tradition it is today. The Tarantella became a symbol of celebration, courtship, and cultural pride. It's performed at weddings, festivals and, of course, Festitalia – where everyone is encouraged to jump in and learn the steps (in 5 minutes or less!).
So next time you see that whirl of colourful skirts and flying feet, remember: It all started with a spider bite... and turned into one of Italy's most iconic dances. 🕷💃
