When in Milwaukee, do as the Italians do and celebrate La Famiglia at the annual Festa Italiana. Test your bocce ball skills, try crooning on the Italian Idol stage, watch the Pinocchio parade and let the kids enjoy their own activities and entertainment. Entertainment ranges from opera and jazz to accordionists and doo wop singers. Foodies should find their fix at cooking demos at the Cucina and a variety of restaurants offering sausage, pizza, arancini, eggplant, Italian beef, pasta, calamari, fresh clams and meatball sandwiches. Finish with Italian ice, a glass of wine, an espresso and a stroll along Lake Michigan.

11:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds), Milwaukee. Tickets cost $13 per day, $25 for a three-day pass, free for kids 12 and younger. (414) 223-2805 or www.FestaItaliana.com.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com