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The sights, sounds, and tastes of Italy came alive once again at Festa Italiana West Michigan! Held July 25–26 at Tanger Outlets in Byron Center, the festival drew roughly 6,000 guests who came together to experience authentic Italian culture, food, music, and family fun. Grazie Mille!
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Beat the heat that West Michigan is in store for this weekend with any of these awesome events. Evviva! After a 26-year hiatus, West Michigan is set to welcome an Italian cultural festival once again.
Check out the full video on Yahoo! News.
BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The West Michigan Italian Festival is back…after a hiatus of more than 20 years.
The festival made its return at Tanger Outlets in Byron Center and began on Friday. Attendees enjoyed games, drinks and food.
Check out the full article on Wood TV.
BYRON CENTER, MI - A beloved festival is returning to the Grand Rapids area this weekend after a two-decade-long hiatus.
Check out the full article on MLive.
After 25 years, the West Michigan Italian Festival is back with a weekend full of food, drinks, games and family fun!
The festival was originally called Festa Italiana and ran from 1983-1997.
The latest version of the festival will be a two-day event from 11-9p on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at the Tanger Outlets in Byron Center.
Stephanie Scott joins 13 On Your Side to talk about Festa Italiana, making its long-awaited return to Grand Rapids after a 25-year absence—bringing back the rich traditions of Italian culture, family, and food.
West Michigan is known for having some truly exquisite festivals. Some, like Tulip Time, are ranked among the best festivals in the entire country. The World of Winter festival in downtown Grand Rapids is the largest winter festival in North America. Festivals come and go, like the Festival of the Arts, which announced it would cease operations after 55 years.
On a memorable evening in West Michigan, the scent of garlic and basil filled the air, wine flowed freely, and voices echoed in a harmony of laughter, storytelling, and shared heritage. Taste with a Purpose wasn’t just a dinner — it was the official announcement that Festa Italiana is back. But this time, it’s not just a festival. It’s a movement.
Whether you’re of Italian descent or simply love the food, culture, and community that comes with it, Italian-American clubs throughout Michigan offer countless ways to get involved. From festive dinner nights to hands-on cooking classes and community outreach, these clubs serve as cultural cornerstones for anyone looking to embrace la dolce vita.
Media Downloads
Download official West Michigan Italian Festival assets by clicking each link below. Get logos, flyers, and promotional materials to help share the excitement of the festival!
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Media Hits
Appearances, articles, and features on the West Michigan Italian Festival.
G.B. Russo Establishes His Business
G.B.’s grocery businesses carried such culinary staples as bulk olive oil, green and black olives, tomato paste, cheeses, pepperoni and salami, macaroni, bread, and baccala (dehydrated salted cod fish), which were made available through importers or local sources. Many of the early Italian immigrants were men who had temporarily left their families behind. They missed their native cuisine, and were very pleased to discover that G.B. was peddling it. Italians living in outlying communities like Holland, Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Muskegon and Kalamazoo would seek out G.B. and the D’Amico’s for their products.