Get a broader view of Italian traditions than what you've seen on TV or in movies with the 4th annual Italian Festival of Arizona at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall on March 25 and 26. The festival brings a touch of the old country and modern Italy into a city-square-like setting, with diverse forms of music, food, dance and artwork that shape Italian culture.

The festival has moved to the mall from the SouthBridge area in Old Town Scottsdale. Co-chair Christina Forrest, a board member for the Italian Association of Arizona, said although the festival will have a different vibe this year, it will still provide an authentic Italian experience. “It will have that Italian piazza feel,” Forrest said. “In Italy, every city has a giant piazza, where there’s entertainment and events.”