Eighth Annual Italian Festival and Bocce Tournament brings authentic Italian food and family fun
September 17, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Columbia’s eighth annual Italian Festival and Bocce Tournament will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion (1615 and 1616 Blanding St.). The Italian Festival, hosted by the Sons of Italy in America Bella Italia Lodge 2808-Columbia, is free and open to the public and will offer a day of lively entertainment, traditional Italian foods, an Italian fresh market, dancing, a bocce tournament and a grape-stomping contest.
This popular festival, which attracts thousands each fall, celebrates the heritage and culture of Columbia’s Italian community. Admission to the festival and much of the entertainment is free. Tickets will be available for purchase for food, beverages, select games and activities. Tickets can be purchased with cash and credit cards, and $1 wristbands are available to purchase alcohol.
When: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Food: Authentic Italian food from a variety of vendors will be available for purchase with tickets. Several local Italian restaurants will participate and offer authentic tastes of Italy.
Participating restaurants and samples from their menus:
– Antonina’s: Traditional New York pizza slices, 4 tickets. Baked ziti, 5 tickets.
– Bella Italia Café: Italian meatball or sausage subs, 7 tickets. Pepperoni rolls, 2 tickets. Spumoni cheesecake, 5 tickets.
– DeLucca’s Italian Grill: Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppadews, with a fig balsamic glaze, 5 tickets. Chicken or beef lasagna, 5 tickets.
– Ray’s Pizzeria and Ice Cream Shoppe: Margherita pizza, 10 tickets. Two mini cannoli, 5 tickets.
– Rita’s Italian Ice: Mango, strawberry, cotton candy, wild black cherry and more. 3-5 tickets.
– Paolo’s Gelato: Limoncello, strawberry, pistachio, tiramisu and Nutella gelatos, 4 tickets. Affogato (espresso and gelato) 5 tickets.
– Pino’s: Cheese pizza slices, 4 tickets. Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, 5 tickets. Arancini (rice balls), 4 tickets.
– Villa Tronco: Smoked Pork Cacciatore smoked on the Big Green Egg grill, 7 tickets. Amaretto bread pudding, 5 tickets. Cheesecake slices, 5 tickets.
The Italian fresh market will be stocked with homemade goods made by Sons of Italy lodge members and Italian desserts and breads as well as fresh produce and imported goods.
Pepsi products, Italian sodas, Moretti Italian beer, draught Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Palmetto Espresso Porter, Conquest Sacred Heart IPA and bottled Budweiser, Bud Lights and Bud Light Lime will be available. Wine and peach bellinis will also be available for purchase.
Entertainment: From face painting and Carnivale mask making to grape stomping and music, the Italian Festival offers entertainment for a wide audience, including:
– Children’s games and activities.
– Performances by Bonerama and Ray Massa’s EuroRhythms, Palmetto Opera, Columbia Classical Ballet and more.
– Face painting and balloon artists will also be on hand.
– “Carnivale” mask making.
Bocce Tournament: Beginning at 2 p.m., women and men are encouraged to enter the bocce tournament. Bocce is an old-world game similar to bowling that’s easy to learn to play. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning teams. Entries are limited and participants are encouraged to visit osiacolumbiasc.org to register for the tournament. On-site signup is available from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the day of the festival. Registration is $25 per two-person team.
Grape Stomping Contest: Beginning at 4 p.m., teams can sign up the day of the festival.
No dogs will be permitted into the festival, though service animals are welcome.
To learn more about Bella Italia’s Italian Festival and Bocce Tournament, visit www.osiacolumbiasc.org and follow the festival on Facebook.
