Italian Day celebration returns to The Drive this Sunday after three-year hiatus

The summer of 2023 is shaping up to be one of the best yet, with the long-awaited return of Italian Day to Commercial Drive.

Celebrating Italian culture and heritage, the festival returns in full from a three-year hiatus like a phoenix rising. In fact, this year’s theme is Rinascimento – Renaissance.

On Sunday, June 11, 14 blocks of Commercial Drive will burst into life and the colours of the Italian flag. From fashion shows and Vespas to concerts and a pasta-eating contest, this is one of the can’t-miss events of the year, especially if you love to eat.

Italian Day Festival Society

Italian street food favourites like pizza and arancini will be served up alongside sweets like cannoli and gelato along the drive. And don’t forget the coffee. At The Authentic Italian Table, you can try samples of Italian products, wines, and other goodies that will have you exclaiming delizioso!

Italian Day Festival Society

Along The Drive, festival-goers can check out a huge selection of summer patios, food trucks, and vendors while taking in music and dance performances all day long. The Italian Day Festival Society also just confirmed that Emma Busse, a 20-year-old Italo-Canadian contestant who shined on American Idol this season, will be a special guest this year.

While in 2022, there was a smaller, more scaled-back “village-style” Italian Day celebration, you don’t want to miss the full Renaissance. More than a quarter million people attend Italian Day to take in the best food, drinks, entertainment and more!

Italian Day 2023

When: Sunday, June 11
Where: Commercial Drive
Cost: Free!

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