La Festa Italian Street Festival on East Passyunk Avenue will return on Sunday, June 2. This year, the South Philly block party will be bigger than ever before. Similar to celebrations in Italy for the Festa della Repubblica (Italian National Day), attendees will spend the day eating, drinking and dancing in the street.

Highlights of the all-day, all-ages event include nearly 20 food and drink vendors, live music on two stages, shopping, carnival games, Italian dancers, wine-making demos, vodka water ice and a spaghetti eating contest. The annual contest is one of the South Philly festival's biggest draws. Thousands come out to watch the spectacle, cheering on competitors trying to eat the most spaghetti and sauce from Pastifico Homemade Pasta Co.