The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation invites the community to celebrate the rich Italian heritage of the city and North Beach in particular at its eighth annual Festa Coloniale Italiana from 9:30am-6:30pm this Saturday, August 15th.

The festival will take place inside the club at 1630 Stockton St. and outside on Stockton between Union and Filbert streets. "It's still the only strictly Italian festival in San Francisco," said Leo Pierini, second vice president/sports director for the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. Everything in the Festa Coloniale Italiana is connected to Italian culture.

The club is excited this year to welcome performers Pasquale Esposito, an Italian-born American tenor, and jazz pianist Pier Luigi Salami, just back from a tour of Europe. Other entertainment will include William Palmini, the "Italian Elvis;" the Ricco Dancers featuring Toni Bava; Il Sole featuring Steve Albini; the Rene Sevieri Band, and a pizza toss with Tony Gemignani of Tony's Pizza Napoletana.

Also look for vendors on an Italian theme, and an Italian feast cooked at the club featuring pasta, polenta, meatball sandwiches, calamari, cannoli and tiramisu, to name just a few favorites that will be sold along with wine, beer, espresso and soft drinks. Inside the club, the first floor will be transformed into an Italian piazza, Pierini said, with a fountain, statues, a collection of Vespa scooters, vendors and a wine tasting ($12 for three tastes).

The  San Francisco Italian Athletic Club's building will be open to the public all day and host special displays: The Guardians of the City Museum and Memorial, dedicated to first responders, will bring artifacts, photos and old uniforms from the Barbary Coast era. And the local chapter of the Carabinieri Nationale, Italy's national police force, will celebrate its 201st anniversary with a display in association with the California Law Enforcement Columbia Association.

Although many Italian Americans moved out of North Beach over the years to places like Excelsior, Marin and the Peninsula, Pierini said, there's still a core base in the area. And, he added, "You’re seeing a lot of the next generation moving back into North Beach, which is really nice."

Also happening in the area on Saturday is The Off Broadway Summer Pop-Up from noon–6pm on Kearny Street and Pacific Avenue, so plan for a full day of community fun.