These are the great performing artists that will be at Festa this year, supported in part by grants from King County’s 4Culture, The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and other supporters as noted.
Refer to the Festa Weekend Schedule for the most up to date and complete listing of performers and show times.
Nationally-known New York tenor.
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 4:00pm
Sunday 24th, 4:00pm
Nationally-known New York tenor Aaron Caruso is a real showman with performances that have something for everyone.
Sponsored in part by a grant from the Seattle Office of Art & Culture.
Tarantella Rock sung in Calabrese dialect
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 3:00pm
This popular indie band from Portland, Oregon will only be playing on Sunday this year. With their songs sung in the Calabrese dialect, this is “Tarantella Rock” at its finest!
Sponsored in part by a grant from King County’s 4Culture.
Popular local Italian-American tenor Tony La Stella and his band
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 6:00pm and 7:00pm, "All-star" jam session
Mamma Mia! Local Italian-American tenor Tony La Stella and his band play Saturday night and then backup the Festa “All-Star” Jam Session. This you don’t want to miss!
Sponsored in part by the Veterans Family Fund of America.
Known for many years as "Seattle's Three Tenors;" Marcus Shelton, Chai Ahrenius and Steve Wall
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 2:00pm
Sunday 24th, 5:00pm
Known for many years as “Seattle’s Three Tenors,” these singers have been show-stoppers at Festa for over 17 years. Marcus Shelton, Chai Ahrenius and Steve Wall, brilliant operatic talents in their own right are awesome together! Always a standing ovation.
Known throughout the NW as a great Sinatra-like song stylist.
Seattle Center Armory
Friday 22nd, 7:00pm
“Danny Q.” is known throughout the NW as a great Sinatra-like song stylist. When not fronting a 16-piece Big Band at nightclubs like Tula’s, he shows off his silky voice in more intimate gigs with a quartet.
Marcus Shelton, popular local tenor and a former "young artist" with Seattle Opera.
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 1:00pm
Popular local tenor and a former “young artist” with Seattle Opera.
Classic Italian marches and excerpts from "Aida" and "il Trovatore."
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 12:00pm
Early Saturday afternoon on the Moretti Mainstage, The Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band presented classic Italian marches including the “March of the Bersaglieri” and “A Frangesa,” as well as excerpts from “Aida” and “il Trovatore.” Guaranteed to wake you up!
Large and unique ensemble playing beautiful Italian music on mandolins.
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 12:00pm
Returning to Festa year after year, this large and unique ensemble plays beautiful Italian music on mandolins of myriad sizes.
Sponsored in part by a grant from the Seattle Office of Art & Culture.
Rob Porcaro, singing since he was 9 years of age. In the late 60's, he fronted the legendary "Thin Red Line."
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 5:00pm
Now a regular on the Moretti Mainstage, Rob Porcaro hails from Toronto, Canada and has been singing since he was 9 years old. In the late 60’s, he fronted the legendary “Thin Red Line” and immigrated with them to Seattle where he now sings at festivals like the Bite of Seattle the Taste of Tacoma and the San Gennaro Festival.
Five-piece combo led by Lenny Luzzi and Tom Falcone of the Rigatones and featuring a "hot" Italian singer.
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 2:00pm
Led by Lenny Luzzi and Tom Falcone of the Rigatones and featuring a “hot” Italian singer, this five-piece combo plays every year at “The Great Italian Festival” in Reno, Nevada.
Seattle's "Sicilian Diva" entertains audiences in Paris, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Hamburg, Brussels, New York, LA and San Francisco.
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 11:00am
Seattle’s “Sicilian Diva” entertains audiences worldwide. When in Seattle, she’s usually at Vito’s or similar intimate cabarets. At Festa, Julie loves to play to her Italian side, performing songs from her childhood.
Lenny Luzzi and Tom Falcone; high-energy sing alongs. That's Amore!
Wine Garden
Saturday 23rd, 4:00pm
Sunday 24th, 4:00pm
Lenny Luzzi and Tom Falcone always draw big crowds with their tunes and high-energy antics. Watch for them each afternoon in the big Wine & Beer Garden with everyone singing along. Now, That’s Amore! Ce La Luna Mezzo Mare – Lenny Luzzi, The RigaTones
Bonnie Birch, Nick Heiting and Paul Ostler; traditional Italian music at its finest.
Wine Garden
Saturday 23rd, 12:00pm
Sunday 24th, 2:00pm
Consisting of Bonnie Birch, Nick Heiting and Paul Ostler, they’ll appear in both the Wine Garden and on the Moretti Mainstage accompanying Fortissimo! Hear musical samples and learn all about them at their website.
Lifelong Italian-American musicians from Seattle, Richard Sclafani and guitarist Juan Barco.
Moretti Mainstage
Saturday 23rd, 1:00pm
Wine Garden
Saturday 23rd, 2:00pm
Sunday 24th, 12:00pm
Richard Sclafani and Pete Cicero were lifelong musicians who grew up in Italian-American families in Seattle. They were musical “paesans” for 30 years until Peter’s passing a year ago. He has been ably replaced by guitarist Juan Barco.
From the Puppet Museum in Portland Oregon, presenting their zany "No, No, No, Pinocchio," twice daily all weekend.
Tino's Cortile, indoors in the Seattle Center Pavilion
Saturday 23rd, 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Sunday 24th, 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Award-winning puppeteers from the Puppet Museum in Portland OR, present their zany “No, No, No, Pinocchio,” twice daily all weekend.
Supported in part by grants from the Seattle Office of Art & Culture and 4Culture.
Opera for kids! A light-hearted version of Humperdinck's "Hansel & Gretel" with a witch that has to be seen to be believed!
Moretti Main Stage
Sunday 24th, 11:00am
A Festa first – opera for kids! Spotlight Rep presents a short and light-hearted version of Humperdinck’s opera “Hansel & Gretel” with a witch that has to be seen to be believed! Sunday morning on the Main stage in the Fisher Pavilion.
Traditional Italian song and dance from students of Seattle's Italian Montessori School.
Moretti Main Stage
Saturday 23rd, 10:30am
Students from our local Italian Montessori School have opened Festa Italiana with song and dance for over 25 years.
A comedy star and our Grape Stomp caller, also known as "Doc Bailey".
Grape Stomp Area
Saturday 23rd, 12:40 - 4:40pm
Sunday 24th, 12:40 - 4:40pm
Our Grape Stomp caller, also known as “Doc Bailey” loves to make Seattle laugh. Around the world he’s a comedy star but at home he’s just a funny guy from Ballard.