The La Festa Italiana Committee and Syracuse City Hall workers kick off the Italian Festival © 2026 Caitlin McDonough.
AUDIO Transcript: La Festa Italiana Returns for Annual Celebration
Sharon Owens: I therefore, Sharon Owens, the mayor of this great city, hereby proclaim the weekend of September 18-20, 2026 to be La Festa Italiana Weekend.
Caitlin McDonough: Even though less than 10% of Syracuse’s population is Italian, you wouldn’t know it by just walking by. For restaurant owner Sara Giocondo, the festival is more than food, music, and shopping.
Sara Giocondo: We feel like a lot of times tradition is dying. Especially you know in up and coming generations. And people just don’t get together as much. Something like the Italian festival with all this food and music and culture brings people together.
Caitlin McDonough: People have been coming since 1998 – the year La Festa Italiana transitioned from the State Fair to Downtown Syracuse as a standalone street festival. But why do people keep showing up from all over the city?
Sara Giocondo: Because who doesn’t love coming together to celebrate something they enjoy together. Something they can talk about and enjoy flavors together with. And dance with them.
Caitlin McDonough: Although Syracuse might be 4500 miles away from Italy, the sights, sounds, and flavors of the country are located right here in the heart of the Salt City. The Festa Italiana brings just a slim taste of what Italy holds so all that’s left to do is dig in.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — “I therefore, Sharon Owens, the mayor of this great city, hereby proclaim the weekend of September 18-20, 2026 to be La Festa Italiana Weekend,” said Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens.
Even though less than 10% of Syracuse’s population is Italian, you wouldn’t know it by just walking by. For restaurant owner Sara Giocondo, the festival is more than food, music, and shopping.
“We feel like a lot of times tradition is dying. Especially you know in up and coming generations,” said Sara Giocondo. “And people just don’t get together as much. Something like the Italian festival with all this food and music and culture brings people together.”
People have been coming since 1998 – the year La Festa Italiana transitioned from the State Fair to Downtown Syracuse as a standalone street festival. But why do people keep showing up from all over the city?
“Who doesn’t love coming together to celebrate something they enjoy together,” said Giocondo. “Something they can talk about and enjoy flavors together with. And dance with them.”
Although Syracuse might be 4500 miles away from Italy, the sights, sounds, and flavors of the country are located right here in the heart of the Salt City. The Festa Italiana brings just a slim taste of what Italy holds so all that’s left to do is dig in.