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Festival season may be behind us, but the organizers of Festa Italiana still want to give people a little taste this fall. Taste of Italy is another fundraiser that helps support the Italian Community Center (ICC) in Milwaukee. Over 100 volunteers spend weeks prepping meatballs, stuffed shells, calamari and more.  You can also taste a dozen differe...

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First lady Jill Biden will make an appearance at Festa Italiana this weekend in Milwaukee. The annual festival will take place at Henry Maier Festival Park from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. The first lady will deliver remarks during the opening ceremonies, the Italian Community Center said on Wednesday, May 29. The opening ceremony event...

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Paul Iannelli loved being Italian. "He was a family man. He was very proud of his Italian heritage," his daughter Paulette Zizzo said. "And he was a man who wanted things done yesterday." His family remembers Iannelli as a man of few words but lots of action — from building a parking business with his brother to helping create the Italian Community...

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In yet another sign that we’re in summer’s winding-down period, Festa Italiana returns this weekend, Sept. 8-10, to close the book on what’s considered the city’s modern ethnic festival lineup. The first Festa took place back in 1978, when members of Milwaukee’s Italian community revived the traditional neighborhood festivals that started in the ea...

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It's time to officially say "Ciao!" to the summer festival season, as Festa Italiana today revealed its 2023 dates: the weekend of Sept. 8-10.  In addition, Festa Italiana announced that it will keep the ethnic festival at the Italian Community Center grounds at 631 E. Chicago Ave. Festa previously called Henry Maier Festival Park home since 1978,...

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Against all odds, Milwaukee's Festa Italiana is returning in 2022, though not at the usual time and place. Organizers have come a long way to get to this point. They first canceled the Italian-themed festival originally scheduled for April of 2022. But in a surprise announcement, organizers revealed the festival would indeed be held - this time at...

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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 pro...

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William A. Jennaro was a lawyer, judge and storyteller, a Milwaukee original who grew up on the city's near south side, remained close to his roots and devoted years to helping cultivate the Italian Community Center. Beyond his love of family and respect for the law, he also had a passion for playing gin rummy with friends. For more than 40 years,...

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Festa Italiana has been canceled for 2021. The Italian Community Center Board Directors made the announcement Friday, Feb. 26.  According to a news release, planning and preparations were on track to proceed with this year’s festival, however, due to the circumstances associated with COVID-19, the directors deemed it the best course of action to ca...

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Henry Piano never forgot his roots. His parents immigrated to America from Italy in 1907 and raised a son who embraced his Italian-American heritage. Piano helped found the Italian Community Center and Festa Italiana. Piano, 86, died of cancer Oct. 24. "It was important for him to always remember where we came from," said his son Nick Piano. "He wa...

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