The Italian Association of Arizona has scheduled its eighth annual Italian Festival for March 11 and 12 at the Sun Dial Recreation Center, 14801 N. 103rd Ave.

“The Italian Festival is part of a dream to bring a piece of Italy to the desert,” said Italian Association’s Executive Director Francesco Guzzo. “We started with a small event along the Southbridge in Old Town Scottsdale in 2014 with a few vendors and lot of enthusiasm. Eight festivals later, we are hitting attendance capacity and keeping Italian traditions alive."