LITTLE ITALY — Give your feet a workout with some good old-fashioned grape stomping at the seventh annual Festa Italiana streetfest this weekend.
After being a hit at the fest last year, the grape stomping is back and now fest-goers have two chances to get their stomp on.
“It was wild,” said University Village Association Executive Director Kathy Catrambone about last year’s stomp. “People wanted to get into it and get their feet dirty.”
In addition to grape stomping, there’s also a meatball-eating contest, bocce ball court, and, on Saturday and Sunday, from 3-7 p.m., take some time to learn the game Scopa, Italy’s No. 1 card game.
Windy City Live host Mark DeCarlo will be around for a Game Show Italia quiz show on Saturday at 5:30p.m. and again on Sunday for a Comedy Cooking Challenge at 4 p.m.
Classic Italian eats will be available from The Rosebud and Tuscany as well as not-so-classic Italian dishes from vendors like Glazed and Infused and Suzie’s Sweet Corn.
Children’s activities include a kid’s stage, with storytelling and marionette performances and a carnival, new to the fest this year.
Music lineup includes '60s rocker Bobby Rydell as Saturday’s headliner, as well as the Italian band SOCO7 and singer Tony Spavone among others.
Festa Italiana is on Taylor Street between Ashland and Racine avenues and has a suggested $5 donation. Fest Hours are Thursday from 5-11 p.m., Friday, 5-11 p.m., Saturday, 12-11 p.m. and Sunday from 2-10 p.m. For a complete list of activities and times, visit www.festaitalianachicago.org.
