We are very excited to announce that on Saturday, August 11, The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation welcomes the Bay Area to North Beach for the 2012 Festa Coloniale Italiana, an annual Italian festival that celebrates the rich Italian and Italian-American heritage that has existed in San Francisco for generations. This free event continues to be San Francisco's only Italian festival. In addition, we are celebrating Ferragosto, a traditional mid-summer Italian holiday.

Along Stockton St., between Union and Filbert sts., there will be continuous live Italian music including: The Bella Ciao band, Due Zighi Baci, Musica Degli Borelli and the Sunday 7 accordion band.

There will be plenty of beer and wine, and the most mouth-watering food this side of Siena including sausage and peppers, pasta, deep-fried calamari, meatball sandwiches and cannoli. Vendors will be selling Italian-related products. Inside, the club's main ballroom will be transformed into an Italian piazza complete with a fountain. There will be a pizza-toss demonstration by award-winning tosser, Tony Gemignani as well as an Italian-dancing demonstration by the Rico dancers.

The third-floor Parkview room, which overlooks the festa and Washington Square park, is being transformed into a wine-tasting venue featuring some of the Bay Area's finest wineries including Mondavi.

The Festa Coloniale Italiana is a family-fun event that is free and open to the public. The Festa runs from 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and for additional information, please contact Tom Torriglia at either 415 440 0800 or at festa@sfiac.com.

The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, which has been located at 1630 Stockton St. since 1936, may be reached at 415 781 0165.
What: 2012 Festa Coloniale Italiana
When: Saturday, August 11, 2012
Place: San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. 1630 Stockton St. San Francisco, Ca 94133 Time: 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.sfiacfesta.com
Contact: Tom Torriglia, 415 440 0800, festa@sfiac.com