The organizers of Festa Italiana have called off the lakefront festival for the third straight year. In a statement Friday afternoon, Rose Anne Fritchie, president of the Italian Community Center and Festa director, cited the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on the financial health of the organization. 

"We have always been proud to be the oldest of the ethnic festivals in Milwaukee," Fritchie said in the statement. "However, we are at a point in time where we must think of not only the physical health of our members, but also the financial health of our organization when planning events."