If you’re looking for a way to satisfy pizza and pasta cravings, this annual tradition might be the perfect match. Festa Italiana, a three-day event celebrating Italian heritage, returns July 14-16 at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights. The free event is one of the largest Italian-American traditions in the metro area, according to a news release.

Festa Italiana is celebrating its third year, with live music, fireworks and food. There's even a meatball-eating contest and a cannoli-eating contest, so arrive hungry. Metro Detroit is home to nearly 300,000 ethnic Italians, according to the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). Festa Italiana, a nonprofit event, encourages all to experience the local Italian community.