Last November, the Italian Association of Arizona longed to attract Italophiles to its Pizza and Wine Festival as COVID-19 was slowing. “We didn’t know what to expect,” said Frank Guzzo, the association’s executive director. “We wanted to test the waters with the Pizza and Wine Festival. It was one day, as we were still dealing with omicron. In hindsight, it could have been two.”

It was so successful, the partner to The Italian Festival of Arizona will reappear this coming weekend as the Scottsdale Taste of Italy and Music Festival on the Scottsdale Canal. The two-day celebration features live music, hand-crafted Italian items, wine tastings, authentic Italian cuisine, pizza ovens and Italian food trucks.