Chicago’s Little Italy Festa will brings meatballs, pizza and more Italian fare to Taylor Street this weekend. The four-day festival, which kicks off Thursday night, will include more than 60 musical performances, Italian dancing and meatball and pizza eating contests. 

The fest runs from 5-10 p.m. Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday on a stretch of Taylor Street between South Throop Street and South Ashland Avenue  in the heart of Little Italy. Mike Marino, Frankie B, Nick Pontarelli, Serendipity, Vince Chiarelli and Nino Folino are among the many performers who will take the stage at the fest.