Downtown Lakeland is set for its first taste of Italy tonight, as the Lakeland Italian Festival “Under the Stars” takes over South Kentucky Avenue from 5 to 10 p.m. with free admission, live performances and a cannoli eating contest. The inaugural event is hosted by the Italian American Club of Central Florida and promises an evening of family fun, authentic food, vendors, and live music and entertainment.
According to LkldNow, the festival includes a photo booth and the aforementioned cannoli eating contest, giving attendees more than just food vendors and music to look forward to. The event is being staged along South Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland, according to lakelandgazette.info, which also confirms that admission is free.
Music, Dancing and a Taste of Italy
Organizers lined up a slate of performers for the night, including The Italian Connection, Roberto DeBellis, Studio Pulcinella Italian Folk Dancers, Jean-Paul Jilbert and Alvaro Baresi, per the station’s report. The lineup is meant to give the festival an authentic Italian feel beyond the food tables, pairing live folk dancing with music throughout the five-hour run.
Guests will also find a curated selection of Italian food vendors alongside a vibrant arts and crafts market, according to the Lakeland Gazette. The festival is sponsored by Il Forno Restaurants and Florida Central Credit Union, according to the Lakeland Gazette.
Vespas, Vintage Rides and Vendor Booths
Beyond the food and music, the festival is drawing a crowd of classic Italian machinery. Vendors include FIAT of Florida, the Tampa Two Stroke Scooter Club — featuring Vespa and Labretta models — and the Italian Angels Motorcycle Club, per the same account from LkldNow.
The timing puts the Italian festival alongside a busy slate of downtown happenings. Downtown Lakeland’s own calendar lists the Color Wave Mural Festival running all day across walls throughout downtown, plus the Farmers Curb Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. along N. Kentucky Avenue between Lemon and Oak streets. Together, the events give downtown Lakeland a full day of programming before the Italian festival’s evening kickoff.
