Huge Italian food festival in Manchester begins this week - here's the details
The countdown is ON- Festa Italiana is just two weeks away and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.
From Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August, Cathedral Gardens will once again be transformed into a slice of southern Italy for a weekend of pizza, pasta, prosecco and pure joy!
This year, Mutti and Garofalo have been announced as the headline partners for the 2025 edition. Two giants of Italian cuisine, they’ll be bringing unmissable activations, giveaways, and surprises across the entire weekend. Mutti will also host their very own demo tent, showcasing the power of Italian tomatoes in show-stopping dishes.
At the heart of the festival will be the iconic Demo Tent, where chef demonstrations will be taking place all weekend long- completely free of charge. Expect flair, flavour and plenty of chaos from returning Festa favourite Gennaro Contaldo, as well as exciting new faces including Manchester-based chef Jonny Mulyk. New for 2025 is Festa della Donna- a Friday celebration of women chefs, spotlighting incredible talent in what remains a male-dominated field.
Another major announcement: Salvi’s will officially launch their own Limoncello during the festival, marked by the debut of the brand-new Salvi’s Limoncello Garden. This zesty activation will bring sunshine and spritzes from the beloved Manchester restaurant throughout the weekend.
Festival-goers can look forward to the return of the hugely popular Piccolo Mercato Italiano, shining a spotlight on some incredible independent brands. There’ll be a stellar food line-up too with favourites like Pasta Factory, Rizzo’s, Proove and Conni’s, plus some exciting new faces joining the festa. And with a refreshed music line-up, the vibes will be flowing all weekend long.
Those lucky enough to have snapped up tickets to the now sold-out Viva la Cucina event can expect an unforgettable night- think chaotic cooking, celebrity chefs, and non-stop fun!
Festa Italiana will also feature some major Manchester brand collaborations- though details are still under wraps.
Maurizio Cecco, Founder of Salvi’s and Festa Italiana said: “Every year Festa gets bigger, better and more full of heart but this year feels extra special. We’ve got new faces, new flavours, and we’re finally launching our own Limoncello! It’s a proper celebration of everything we love about Italian food, drink and community and Manchester always brings the energy. I can’t wait to see everyone there!”