A Message from The Mississauga Italfest Board of Directors and Organizing Committee

Dear Friends of Mississauga Italfest,

We have been thinking of you, your families and businesses and wishing you well during these most unprecedented times. Thank you for your past support and encouragement of what we continue to work so hard to accomplish, delivering an award-winning Italian Heritage, Music & Food Festival that offers everyone to experience a vibrant “Taste of Italy”.

All of us at Italfest would like you to know that while we’d hoped to present something in 2020, by the time we were given the final word of the closure of Celebration Square, it was too late to produce a virtual event. From our most successful festival on record in 2019 where we welcomed 30,000 enthusiastic visitors, to 2020, where due to COVID-19 all festivals were cancelled, and Mississauga Italfest stages went dark.

COVID-19 continues to bring many challenges but with it, resilience, and the ability for us to adapt, and change.

Italfest 2021 will present:  “A Virtual Taste of Mississauga Italfest!” during Italian Heritage Month. Exciting popular Italo-Canadian singer, Carlo Coppola, hilarious comedian Frank Spadone, and highlights of the Italfest featured region, Calabria with its songs, folklore, regional food, and specials including renowned Calabrese Chef, Luciano Schipano, will reach deep into people’s homes and hearts with exciting music, culinary delights, and entertainment!

When COVID restrictions are lifted, Mississauga Italfest looks forward to bringing people together again for our annual August Ferragosto picnic. All can enjoy Bocce Ball, Scopa and Briscola tournaments, pasta & watermelon eating contests, popular headliners and dynamic emerging talent, kid’s attractions, a sports zone and family zone, Heritage displays, crafters, vendors and delicious food.

Until then, along with our Virtual presentation during Italian Heritage Month, throughout the year Mississauga Italfest will find unique ways to celebrate Italian heritage and culture by partnering with organizations, social clubs and other communities. We’ll look for every opportunity to show our pride and foster ideas like participating in a virtual Italian Flag raising ceremony and Italian Independence Day, presenting small concerts and Heritage talks, cooking classes, capturing and documenting the Mississauga-Italian immigrant story and so much more.

NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY!  

We could never have gotten here without your help and hope you will be with us to accept another Top 100 Festivals in Ontario Achievement Award this year.