Bocce is the thread tying together an afternoon celebrating Italian culture. Saturday’s 10th Annual Bocce Tournament and Festa will feature 24, four-member teams — a typical mix of returning teams and new ones. More than 100 participants plus spectators will gather on the grounds of the Village at the Grand Traverse Commons for food, music, socializing and the round-robin rivalry.

The day will start at 11 a.m. with informal bocce games that allow organizers to rank teams and create competitive brackets. After a potluck-style picnic lunch, tournament games start in earnest.