Come August, a tiny slice of Chicago will transform itself into the streets of Rome, Venice and Palermo with the weekend Taylor Street Festa Italiana in Chicago’s historic Little Italy neighborhood. Onesti Entertainment Corporation President Ron Onesti — who started the original event  — returns after a six-year hiatus to produce the 2018 edition of the popular festival, Aug. 16-19.

Onesti grew up in the “old neighborhood” and is ready to bring that traditional feel back to Taylor Street this summer. He also wants to show how Chicago’s Little Italy has been influenced by the nearby Illinois Medical District.