The Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation (NOIA) is thrilled to launch CIAO! – a unique event creating an Italian experience – in Cleveland. CIAO! will be a day-long celebration of Italian culture; kicking-off Italian Heritage Month. Italian vendors featuring traditional dishes to nosh on, specialty drinks and unique goods and services will line the scenic waterfront on the Flats East Bank. 

The concept for CIAO! came about while Dominic Spitalieri, a local Clevelander and music producer, attended an event at City Hall where fellow Italians received an award for their work in the community during Italian Heritage Month a few years ago. The event wasn’t well-publicized nor was it well-attended. After the event, Spitalieri started brainstorming ideas on how to share the Italian culture with others in the Akron/Cleveland area. And CIAO! was born.