BRYAN, Texas — Editor's Note: The attached video aired in June 2023.
With the success of the event in 2023, Destination Bryan has announced that Festa Italiana, an Italian Food and Heritage Festival, will return for another year in June.
“With the success of the inaugural year of Festa Italiana, we began planning the 2024 Festa. We are excited to bring a bigger and better version to Aggieland with live music, more entertainment, and even more delicious food,” said Festa Italiana founder Blake Zeitman in a press release from Destination Bryan. “I hope you will come and join us for a fun-filled day and evening celebrating the heritage and food of our Italian neighbors.”
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and have activities for all to enjoy in and outside of downtown Bryan. One of the events is an exclusive welcome dinner at Messina Hof, taking place the evening before the event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"We are thrilled to host the Festa Italiana Welcome Dinner at Messina Hof to kickoff of the festival!" said Karen Bonarrigo. "This event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our rich Italian heritage right here in Bryan, blending authentic Italian cuisine and award-winning Messina Hof wines with our renowned Texas hospitality. We are honored to be part of such a celebration of culture and community.”
The dinner will be a five-course meal served family style and will have wine pairings from the Messina Hof winery. Tickets are $125 per person.
If you're not interested in the welcome dinner, there are still plenty of events happening the day after in downtown Bryan.
Some of the events on Saturday returning from last year's event include:
- A Bocce Ball Tournament
- A Pasta Eating Contest
- Italian Food Vendors
- Live music and more
Click here to view the full event details on the Destination Bryan website.