Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Festa Italiana

    3.3 (12 reviews)

    Festa Italiana Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Festa Italiana

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    David
    Tony K.

    Festa Italiana is my second favorite ethnic festival in MKE. Here's why: The food. Some of the best Italian bites from around MKE. Arancini, sausage, spaghetti, eggplant, cannoli.... On and on and on! Specifically - Octopus salad from Pietro's Pizza. Its a must have. It's a cold salad in oil/vinegar with celery, red onion and pepperoncini peppers. Really really good. The culture. Go to the church tent and see various statues from the Italian churches around MKE. While in there, look at hundreds of Italian family photos from days of old Milwaukee. Music. Frank Sinatra covers, opera, Italian Idol!... The fireworks. Bartolottas pulls out all the stops for the Festa Fireworks. All three nights of the Fest, word has it that Saturday always is the biggest show. If you love fireworks - these cant be missed! All in all, Festa represents the Italian in Milwaukee. Great food, great people - you're bound to have a good time.

    It's the inflatable Tower of Pisa
    Rohan D.

    Festa Italian was the first of the ethnic festivals to be held on the lakefront, although it's still anchored by the Mass featuring the Our Lady of Pompei (Pink Church) icon, it's transformed over the years from Italian to Italian-American. The ethnicity has become more symbolic than authentic, as Herbert J Gans might have observed. Instead of Italian music, most of the performers are doing Sinatra or the Four Seasons. Of course that's fun, but I did encounter a very disappointed couple of tourists from Naples. The food choices are Americanized pizza and pasta, American beer, It doesn't matter, you'll have fun if you know what to expect.

    First time I've ever had Eggplant and it was really good!!!

    See all

    9 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenn M.
    360
    980
    4872

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rohan D.
    381
    3656
    10791

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Magic M.
    114
    65
    66

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dennis M.
    2
    272
    585

    9 years ago

    I just don't get it. Not much for entertainment, long, long lines for food and high prices. The free fireworks are the only good thing.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Festa Italiana

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Festivals 1,302 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Brady Street Festival

    Brady Street Festival

    4.1
    (24 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Brady Street Festival 2022 was back and people were out with a vengeance. I was in New Orleans this…read morepast spring, and I don't think Bourbon Street on a Saturday night holds a candle to the frenetic drunk energy on Saturday night at Brady Street Festival, actually. Pros- One of the most diverse festivals in Milwaukee, good food vendors, good music lineups, good artisan vendors Cons- Overly Crowded, sprawling, a drunk fest with music (as an aside?), a surcharge on credit cards at Festival drink tents, people getting overserved Dryhootch Veterans house had a great R&B Veterans band, good food- Nomad staff were working hard and had a great party out back, as well. The main music stages have good local acts in a variety of styles, such as Negative Positive, Browns Crew, GuhGuhGoldDuhDuh (haha) throughout the day. I got some great tacos, and Elotes Mexican Street Corn. There is a lot of good food vendors here. Brady Street Festival is really great for the bars on Brady- as they set up shop w/slushies, liquor drinks, Mai Tais and the like, and the bars are bustling. But aye, there's the rub- our crowd of music dancers and watchers of De La Buena got physically plowed by people who by 7pm were already...plowed! Of course Brady Street Festival is 100% Brady Street, glad to have you back.

    First time going to The Brady Street Festival it was a good experience. Went with my daughter and…read moremy grandson. Well I wanted to eat some of their food but my daughter said another time, Iwanted some of the waffle fries that was in one of the stands. I had great people saying hi to me, got along fine with some people there. Got a free shirt but just walking by a shirt stand. Thank you, at least they was nice. Maybe if they have the Festival again for next year I'll be there ready for anything and eat the food, have more fun. Stay a bit longer. Love that they had bikers doing great stunts and the guys that with the drums doing stepping music. Took a pic of The Godfathers picture they had outside a restaurant. Thank you.

    Photos
    Brady St Festival, mid afternoon, looking east, 7/30/22.
    Brady St Festival, mid afternoon, looking east, 7/30/22.
    7/28/23 Cool
    7/28/23 Cool
    7/29/23 FYI

    See all

    7/29/23 FYI
    Riverwest24

    Riverwest24

    4.8
    (11 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    It's so great to see a community of people who work together to help make this event happen year to…read moreyear. Talk about a group people who love celebrating for more than just 24 hours. I had a chance to experience this event on a reservoir rd aka twizzler alley this is an open road event with intersection spotters at a few locations hopefully in the future they could have more volunteers help warn bikers as they approach some of the most heavily traveled sections day and night. it made me nervous watching how fast they go and how easy a collision can occur Riverwest is a community that cares. Roll on Thank you sponsors and community volunteers! 36/2016

    RW24 is as good as the soul of a city can breathe out! It is the culmination of good vibes and…read moremasterful planning, uh hum, or at least flying by the seat of your pants. My Milwaukee neighborhood of Riverwest is alive more than usual for a full 24 hours of parties and camaraderie. Anywhere you walk the streets are shut down or at least barricaded off. A buzz is in the air from an event so killer, only a Milwaukee neighborhood nestled on the West side of the river could dare pull it off. All things Riverwest are in full swing, all hands on deck for a truly good time. Most streets are a mayhem of elated pandemonium to show the world or at least Wisconsin how much it means for a neighborhood to come together. Some sleep and others don't. Either way by the time the 24 is up any involved are feeling it. Long live the RW24!

    Photos
    Booth st check point
    Booth st check point
    Riverwest24
    Riverwest24

    See all

    Oktoberfest Milwaukee

    Oktoberfest Milwaukee

    4.2
    (33 reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    Great atmosphere, nice selection of beers but unfortunately the food is definitely not as good as…read moreseveral years ago. The $25 half chicken was overcooked and dry, and since last year the $30 pork wasn't so good we didn't even try it. However, the entertainment was nice and overall very enjoyable.

    It's been a long time since I've been to this Oktoberfest. Finally made a return over the weekend…read moreand totally forgot what a big, electric crowd it brings! Parking was a wild time, as they were directing people to an entirely different lot down the way, so it was a bit of hike to get to the entrance. Once we parked, we waited in like for 10 minutes or to get through the gates. I was tipped off the downland the Bavarian's app ahead of time, which got me $5 off my entry (and it was free from my little kiddo in tow). If you're looking for all the great German beer, German music, and German cuisine, this is your place! It's so fun to see how many attendees dress to theme in their lederhosens, dirndls, and hats. Some of the staff dress up as well, and of course those preforming on stage! We came to find out this isn't the greatest fest to take young kids, as the crowds are big, the lines are long, and the music (be it so fun and festive), is really loud. I'm sure we would have stayed longer if it was an adult-only trip. In any case, the food and drink are fare price. I'm now regretting not ordering the traditional pretzel and sausage options, but splitting a tasty platter of tenders and fries with my son hit the spot. Being pregnant, I'm not drinking, but friends we were with has nothing but great things to say about their German pints. The beer steins are of course an option which is a fun touch. Hot tip: if you can book a table reservation ahead of time, do so! That's what we did and it was a good call since this place is poppin. Happy official Fall! Enjoy!

    Photos
    Oktoberfest Milwaukee
    Oktoberfest Milwaukee
    Expert level table decor

    See all

    Expert level table decor
    Jazz in the Park

    Jazz in the Park

    4.6
    (21 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    This summer event is free and very much worth it. With perfect weather, my co-workers and I enjoyed…read morea lovely evening at Cathedral Square Park. Makes you wonder why you had not done this before. Everybody brings a cooler or a basket with food; and the event organizers kindly ask that you purchase your beverages with the vendors. That's how the can make a profit and support the event (makes sense). Drinks are about $6 per cup. This is my first "Jazz in the Park" and I'll definitely come better prepared next time. Besides my chair, I'll bring a book (for the wait) and snacks! There weren't really many options this time. Happy "Jazz in the Park"! Fun fact: "Jazz in the Park" has its own mascot! You can see it dancing around the park. Great for kids!

    "who played last night?" "oh, God, how do I know? It's not…read morelike I ever go to hear the music." I didn't start going to jazz until i moved away from Cathedral Square (well, so I'm 12 blocks away now instead of 1 block,) but I still feel like this is my neighborhood gettogether (as opposed to say, chill on the hill or tosa tonight.) So in the interest of repping home base and all, I have to increase it to 5 stars. That, and really, does summer in milwaukee get any better than sitting on the grass in cathedral square with a bottle of wine (Louises will even deliver a whole pizza to your staked out spot,) or roaming the grounds with a watermelon mojito in hand? I think not. It's always better the hotter the weather gets. There's all kinds of other stuff available for purchase, from kettle corn to beer and wine to tacos to risotto! And you'll see all sorts of milwaukee and neighborhood characters here for good measure. Disclaimer: the music and performers are generally very good...but I'm just more there for the festive atmosphere. Be sure to stop in one of the neighboring restaurants or bars around the square before or definitely after Jazz in the Park ends for the full effect. See you there!

    Photos
    Jazz in the Park
    Jazz in the Park
    Jazz in the Park

    See all

    Summer Soulstice Music Festival

    Summer Soulstice Music Festival

    4.2
    (9 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Summer Solstice is defined as "the solstice that marks the onset of summer, at the time of the…read morelongest day, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere". And so marks that time of year when all things Wisconsin are on the up and up. It's time to enjoy the warmer weather and hopefully it's dry out. This 2019 Solstice was a dry one despite the long wind up to summer we've all been waiting for. Eastside Summer Soulstice is a particular great event and this year would prove to be one of the best. Why you say, because there are so many new businesses on this corridor of street corners where all roads East intersect. Hacienda Beer, Crossroads Collective and it's many restaurants inside and so on... Plus, all of some of Wisconsin's finest vendors all on the closed of streets and all in the mix. This event is dog friendly and people watching equipped. The sun was shining and although not hot it was a perfect temp to relax and enjoy all this city has to offer. We sat at Hacienda outside and people watched, listened to the 88.9 stage and ate food with our pooch soaking up the sun. Cheers to Summer Soulstice!

    Summer Soulstice Solid. Great local music- so muchso that you can't see everything great happening…read moreat once. It's All Happening (at once)! Three well-spaced stages of great local music is the big ticket hang, here. Besides the great local music there's a good selection of quality Makers showing here, and an okay but not great selection of beer (would like to see more local craft on tap or in cans). I liked that Landmark and Von Trier and other places had bars set up outside. Great local MKE festival.

    Photos
    Jamming at Summer Soulstice
    Jamming at Summer Soulstice
    Summer Soulstice Music Festival
    Summer Soulstice Music Festival

    See all

    Festa Italiana - festivals - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...