Free admission, live bands flown in from Italy, and a pizza-eating contest are drawing visitors back to downtown Salt Lake City this weekend, as Festa Italiana returns to The Gateway for its 11th annual run. The two-day street fair unfolds Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, filling the open-air plaza with music, food, and family activities meant to recreate the feel of a traditional Italian street festival.
The festival is in its 11th year and has grown into a decade-plus Salt Lake tradition, according to Visit Salt Lake. It now draws visitors each year to the stretch of The Gateway running from 100 South to the northern Piazza. Ahead of this year's gathering, KUTV's Fresh Living program sent hosts Chris Lorenzon and Frank Granato to preview the festival, and according to KUTV, admission to the event remains free.
A 92-Year-Old Nonprofit Behind the Party
Festa Italiana is presented by the Italian-American Civic League of Utah, a nonprofit KUTV describes as 92 years old and focused on celebrating authentic Italian culture, food, and traditions. Records place the league's founding at January 18, 1934, according to the Italian-American Civic League. The organization focuses on fellowship and civic, economic, and social development work, per Salt Lake City government records tied to a 2024 city council resolution.
Italian-American history in Utah also includes labor contributions in the 19th-century railroad and mining industries, according to the Utah Division of State History. Italian immigrants settled heavily in Salt Lake, Carbon, and Weber counties beginning in the 1870s, and 74 Italian immigrants were recorded in Utah Territory in 1870, according to the Utah Division of State History.
Music, Food, and Contests on the Schedule
This year's musical lineup pulls performers directly from Italy. Duo Luca De Paolis and Alessio Bonucci, associated with Civitavecchia, will perform alongside singer Angela Cannata, who hails from Palermo, and regional acts like the Joe Muscolino Band will also perform on Sunday, per Festa Italiana SLC. KUTV notes the festival features two bands flying in from Italy as part of its live music offerings throughout the weekend, plus live cooking demonstrations and street performers.
Saturday's hours run from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., while Sunday wraps earlier, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Crowd-pleasing competitions are built into that schedule too: a pizza-eating contest sponsored by Pizzeria Tasso takes over Saturday afternoon, and a pasta-eating contest backed by Fratelli Ristorante follows on Sunday afternoon, both held near the main stage area, the festival's schedule shows. KUTV also reports the weekend will include a car and motorcycle show alongside the eating contests.
Local Vendors Get the Spotlight
Food and craft vendors make up a major part of the draw. KUTV reports the festival includes 15 food vendors serving Italian-inspired dishes and treats, alongside 15 arts vendors offering handmade items, plus face painting and other activities for the whole family. The festival also features vendors as part of its programming.
Long-standing Utah establishments including Sapori Italian Bakery, Granato's, and Caputo's have been named among participating food vendors. The event operates as an all-volunteer, nonprofit effort, with proceeds supporting local and national charities. For readers wanting a preview before heading downtown, Fresh Living airs every weekday at 1 p.m. MST on CBS Channel 2 or YouTube.
