Little Italy Days is an annual heritage festival running in the heart of Bloomfield, known as Pittsburgh's Little Italy. Experience this colorful celebration on Liberty Ave between Ella St and Gross St over a long weekend in August. The avenue offers three stages of live music, dozens of vendors selling delicious Italian foods, games, a kid's zone, and other family-friendly activities. The highlights include the Bocce Tournament and Miss Little Italy Contest.
Live Music
All four days of the Little Italy Days festival are accompanied by a selection of great music performed by local singers with Italian heritage and beloved artists from the area. Past lineups included East End Kids, Jerry Demara, Mirella the Musician, Billy Mancini, Mojo Hand, and more. You'll be introduced to a magnificent blend of jazz, soul, rock, and even opera, an art form with Italian roots.
Entertainment Program
During the festival, you'll have a chance to witness an Irish versus Italian celebrity tournament in bocce, an Italian bowling game, the point of which is to aim as close as you can to pallino, a target ball. Among the contestant, you will be greeted with local familiar faces, such as politicians and entertainment figures. The tournament normally takes place on Thursday at 6 pm.
Apart from the contest, your children can enter a Miss Little Italy pageant, which has several age divisions to compete in. The pageant is a long-standing tradition and doesn't require the contestants to be of Italian heritage or reside in Pittsburgh. Participation fee costs $35 for the first participating child, and $25 for the second one. The contest usually takes place on Saturday at 11:30 pm.
Schedule & Admission
The hours for the Bloomfield Little Italy Days festival vary depending on the day. On Thursday, you can come to this legendary outdoor bash from 5 pm to 9 pm; on Friday and Saturday, the festivities take place from noon until 9 pm. The Sunday hours for the celebration are from noon until 5 pm. Admission is free, thanks to the festival's sponsors.
History of the Festival
Pittsburgh has been holding Bloomfield Little Italy Days since 2004. Over the years, the event has grown into the region's largest heritage celebration, drawing nearly 150,000 attendees over four days of all-Italian fun. Produced by Italians for Italians and everyone interested, Bloomfield Little Italy Days immerses its visitors into a whirlwind of Italian culture right in the middle of Pittsburgh.
