Maharishi University of Management is tucked into a small town in southeast Iowa where you can find arts, theater, entertainment, and culture flourishing at every turn. The All Things Italian Street Festival is a prime example of this. For the past seven years, the Society of Fairfield Italian Americans (SOFIA) has successfully transformed downtown Fairfield into an enchanting Italian themed piazza.
Italian Folk Dancing
The website states: The All Things Italian Street Festival in Fairfield Iowa, named a “must-see event” by the Iowa Tourism Office, is free to everyone and draws close to 5,000 people each year. Known for it’s homemade lasagna and freshly filled cannoli, the festival receives high marks for it’s authentic Italian cuisine.
Things you will find at the festival:
- 1,800 freshly filled cannoli
- Madonnari street artists
- Homemade lasagna featuring local Radiance Dairy ricotta cheese
- Italian aria performances
- Italian automobile shows
- Dance troupes
- Games for all ages
- Wood-fired pizza
- World class jugglers
- Italian bagpipe players
Cannoli
Admission to the festival is free! And all proceeds made from sales during the event go towards local and international charities such as the Ottumwa Women’s Shelter, MSAE Greenhouse project, Italian Earthquake Relief Fund. For one day, June 16th, you can experience a taste of Italy right here in Fairfield, Iowa.
An addition to the festival this year is the “Italian Culture Master Series.” The series is an opportunity for the public to learn from highly skilled Italian folk experts, including zampagnari (Italian bagpipe players) and folk dancers from California, Virginia, and as far away as Rome, Italy. The Master Series starts in the evening on Thursday, June 14th at Cafe Paradiso.
“There are several annual zampogna festivals in Italy,” remarked zampognaro Lionel Bottari, who will be among the presenters, “but this is the first of its kind that I’ve heard of in the U.S.” Bottari, who lives in Chicago, is also a traditional Italian puppeteer.
Chalk Art
So, the bottom line here is, don’t miss the Italian Festival on Saturday, June 16th!
For more information check out the Italian Street Festival’s Facebook page and website.
I’ll be there representing Fairfield’s sustainability initiative the Hometown Rewards Program. Stop by the table, ride a bike that will power lights at a food booth and earn a free treat.
See you there!
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Anna Bruen is a MUM alumna who graduated with a degree in Sustainable Living. Anna is the resident blogger here at MUM. To learn more about Anna take a look at her introduction post. |
