When approximately 4,000 people gather to show their passion for Italian culture, that’s amore.
The Greater Baton Rouge American Italian Association hosted its annual Italian Festa, a celebration of food, music and heritage, at the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel on Sunday.
The association has been together since 1978 and has celebrated a festa every year since 1979, when the event was first held as a Columbus Day festival.
Nickie Dimaio, co-chairman of the Italian Festa and founding member of the Greater Baton Rouge American Italian Association, said he hopes to see the festival grow into an even larger function in the future.
“We’re trying to keep Italian traditions and customs and heritage present for our children and grandchildren,” Dimaio said. “Younger generations don’t always want to sit down and listen to stories from grandparents, but if they can have fun this is a better way to do that.”
The festa featured an Italian maid presentation, Italian 101 lessons, a showcase of Italian artifacts, wine sampling, a St. Joseph’s Altar exhibit, shopping, food, drinks and music by Bobby Lonero and The New Orleans Express, among others.
The organization also incorporated charity into the event, with the Vino Stroll wine sampling benefiting McMains Children’s Development Center in Baton Rouge. Money was also donated from a celebrity charity grape stomp and charity pizza-eating contest.
Dimaio said most of the Italian presence in south Louisiana — about 80 to 85 percent — is Sicilian.
“We have an awful lot of Italians in Baton Rouge and southern Louisiana,” he said. “We hold this event for people to learn about their heritage.”
The festa is the AIA’s main function. The association also hosts quarterly dinner meetings and participates in an international heritage festival and an Irish-Italian parade throughout the year.
The AIA is also responsible for the statue of Christopher Columbus, sculpted and shipped from Italy, that stands on Government Street.
Dimaio said the event aims to teach younger generations about the opportunities they have now because of the hard work of their ancestors.
“We’ve always had a nice turnout and everybody seems to enjoy it,” he said.
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]