Italian Day 2019 Highlights & Entertainment

Once again, Italian Day on The Drive will fly its green, white and red colours proudly, featuring food, patios, live music, fashion, activities and more.  Along with 130 street vendors and participants lining The Drive, highlights will be delivered in piazza style themed intersections and areas including:

  • three music stages (2nd Ave, Grandview Park and 3rd Ave)
  • 2 DJ tents (5th Ave & between Parker and Venables)
  • garden style music tent at Napier Greenway
  • performances by local and international Italian artists
  • fashion show featuring local designer, Grandy Chu (Piazza Moda @ 3rd Avenue)
  • food and wine samplings at the Italian Chamber’s ‘Authentic Italian Table’ piazza (Grant Street, east side)
  • food eating contests (5th Ave)
  • exotic Italian cars and Ducati motorcycles (4th Ave)
  • RE/MAX Children’s Zone in Grandview Park (Grandview Park)
  • Canucks Community Caravan with games & activities (William Street, west side)
  • Whitecaps with the Cap Cruiser (Parker Street, west side) & more games and activities at Graveley Street Soccer zone (east side)
  • Jack 96.9 with News 1130 Cruiser
  • raffle stations  – Win a trip for two to Italy! This year with TWO trip giveaways to la bella Italia + more prizes!
  • Celebrate green, white and red with bracelets sporting the colours of the Italian flag available at the festival

To view highlight and participant locations click here for complete site map

Live Music

Our Comunità theme this year embraces youth, and as part of the artist line up, young artists, both from Italy as well as locally, will highlight the Italian music performances. 

Marco Boni, a 15 year old rising star, who represented Italy in Eurovision Junior 2018, will sing the Italian national anthem at the noon Opening Ceremony – as well as perform on all 3 stages with music artist Danilo Ciaccia, also originally from Italy and now living in Vancouver.

Notte Italiana, a young trio from Latina, Italy will too be special guest artists on all three stages, performing Italian classics known worldwide and embedded in Italy’s music culture and history.  The trio will consist of David Pacini, Simone Beato and Francesco Milani.

Opera will also grace the stages at both 2nd Ave and Grandview stages, featuring City Opera on 2nd and Vancouver Opera at Grandview Park stage.

Not to miss – music entertainment also includes:

Long time godfather of the local Italian music family, Gianni Fuoco, who will be on 2nd Ave stage with his mandolin and back up ensemble sharing the nostalgia of Italy and more. 

And, annual highlights, Federico Fuoco and Carmelina Cupo, who look to deliver their charisma and talent with Italian pop rock covers known worldwide – with Carmelina Cupo headlining Grandview Park stage and Federico igniting the south side of The Drive on 2nd Ave Stage.

Other local performers will be Luna Rossa, Jany Barucci, Stephen Scaccia, Lisa Petrucci, Laura Crema, Dennis Meyer, The Drive Street Band, and Songpati Latinband, who are originally from Venezuela. 

Grandview stage will open the performances with the Coro Folcloristico Trevigiano (choir) in their traditional dress, while Piazza Moda stage and Napier Greenway includes the Venetian Opera Duo in carnival mode.

Stage Performance Schedules

Italian Day on The Drive… a look back

A Latin addition this year at the Grandview Stage