Festa Italiana Returns to Freedom Hill This Weekend: A Celebration of Sterling Heights' Italian Heritage

At Freedom Hill County Park, Festa Italiana opens today for a three-day Sterling Heights gathering built around Italian food, drinks, national and local entertainment, family activities and Friday night fireworks — with no admission charge through Sunday, July 19.

The festival runs from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. More than 40,000 people attend each year. Organized by the Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan, the event celebrates the city's Italian-American heritage while drawing visitors from across the region.

Daily parking is $10 per vehicle — the main cost for attendees. Freedom Hill County Park is at 14900 Metro Parkway, east of Schoenherr Road, in Sterling Heights. Residents looking for last-minute details can visit iaccm.net/festa-italiana or call 586-925-2020.

More than 30 food vendors are expected, serving Italian favorites including spaghetti, pizza, meatballs and street corn. Participating vendors include Vince & Joe's Gourmet Market, Bommarito Bakery, Ventimiglia Italian Foods and Andiamo restaurants. Italian wines and beer also will be available.

This year's lineup includes Adventures in Parrotdise, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band making its Festa Italiana debut, along with The Bronx Wanderers, Aaron Caruso, Ray Massa's EuroRhythms, Frankie Scinta, Simone Vitale Band and Vanessa Carr. Friday's program includes a 22-minute fireworks display.

Families can find bounce houses, a zip line, bocce courts, a rock-climbing wall and face painting in the Family Fun Zone. Festival contests include a meatball contest, cannoli-eating contest, Italian American Idol competition and a beautiful baby contest.

Festival chairmen Joe Vicari, Joe Ventimiglia, Aaron Marentette and Tom Bommarito coordinate the weekend. Vicari, founder and CEO of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, Metro Detroit's largest family-owned restaurant group, represents Andiamo Italia in connection with the festival. Vendor participation, sponsorships and parking revenue support both the festival's free admission and its charitable mission.

In 2025, organizers raised more than $80,000 for charities including Conductive Education, Friends of Foster Kids, Capuchin Soup Kitchen and St. Louis Center.

The Italian American Chamber of Commerce of Michigan founded Festa Italiana around 1970. When its future was in doubt in 2004, community members who stepped in to save it included Reno Garagiola, Joe Ventimiglia, Nino Salvaggio, the Randazzo Family, Joe Vicari, the Picano Family, Frank Mastro and Tom Bommarito. Ventimiglia has served as festival chairman since 2007, following founder Garagiola's death, and named Marentette as co-chairman in 2018.