The Memphis Italian Festival is a weekend-long event held annually in
emphis, Tennesseethe weekend after Memorial Day.
Background
Started in 1989, it takes place every year in
Marquette Park, located in the middle of East Memphis on the corner of Mt. Moriah and Park.
People from the entire Mid-South come to enjoy
Italian culture for a weekend with activities and food. The festival is based on the values, beliefs, and traditions of the
Italian-American
Italian Americans ( it, italoamericani or ''italo-americani'', ) are Americans who have full or partial Italian ancestry. The largest concentrations of Italian Americans are in the urban Northeast and industrial Midwestern metropolitan areas, ...
culture present, especially in the Mid-South.
The festival started in 1989. The proceeds from the Memphis Italian Festival go directly to the children attending the
Holy Rosary Parish School, a Catholic elementary school in Memphis.
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, no festival was held in 2020.
Activities
The city of Memphis regularly celebrates traditions dealing with music and food. The activities at the festival include live musical performances, consisting of both local and national bands. There are performances all three days of the weekend all throughout the day.
Other forms of entertainment include the Coors Light Bocce Ball Tournament, the Galtelli Cup Recreational Bocce Tournament, carnival games,
grape stomping, a volleyball tournament, and arts and crafts.
Every year, teams also compete for the best
gravy
Gravy is a sauce often made from the juices of meats that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with wheat flour or corn starch for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavoured with gravy salt (a simple mix of salt ...
and the best homemade wine. The best booth at the festival and the best powder room also win competitions.
See also
Memphis in May
Memphis in May International Festival is a month-long festival held in Memphis, Tennessee. The festival, which is saluting Ghana in 2022, honors a specific foreign country every year and features many events. The ''Beale Street Music Festival'' ...
, another event held during the same month as the Italian festival
References
Festivals in Tennessee
Italian Festival
Italian-American culture
Italian-American History in Memphis, Tennessee
1989 establishments in Tennessee
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