Festival Italiano 2022

Overview

Had to jealously block all your friends swanning around Italy this summer? Yeah, us too. Luckily spring is finally here in the 09 and it's bringing a little taste of Italian culture to Auckland — Newmarket to be exact. Making its hotly anticipated post-COVID return is Festival Italiano, New Zealand's largest Italian festival, returning to Newmarket on Sunday, November 13.

Free for everyone to attend, the event will literally stop traffic in Newmarket as it transforms the streets into an Italian village centre with stalls and al fresco lunch offerings from leading Italian restaurants. Taking over the Newmarket laneways and streets from 11am - 5pm including Osborne Street, Kent Street and the Rialto Centre, it's set to be a day of music, food, design and Italian culture.

The exact dining lineup hasn't been released, but if past years are anything to go by, you can expect delicious Italian fare from the likes of Giapo, Farina, Pasta & Cuore, Pane e Vino, Non-Solo Pizza and more. As you sink into a food coma, sit back and enjoy some traditional live music with a glass of the good stuff from the festival bar. Once you're fuelled, you can spend your hard-earned euros* at a bustling market with over 40 stalls, check out some live music, entertainment and workshops, and scoff tasters in a special Italian products degustation area.

If you're a petrolhead (or have a mini car fan in your family) you'll be able to check out the Italian cars and scooters on show — and maybe be in to win some spot prizes.

*No, the festival still uses New Zealand dollars, we just got carried away with this copy.