Here are 10 things you don't want to miss at Festa Italiana

Pizza, wine tasting, and an Italian mercato.

Festa Italiana, the annual Lodi Festival is back for another year "celebrating all things Italian" Sunday at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds.

“We are excited to celebrate the Italian Culture at Festa Italiana. The support from our sponsors gives us the opportunity to bring high-end talent such as renowned Italian Tenor Pasquali Esposito, Nino Lane and local Italian musicians including Mike Trucco, and opera singer Bianca Orsi!” said Bill Trezza, president of the Pacific Italian Alliance. “It’s a day filled with great Italian food, game(s) like Salami Toss and Bocci. It’s a day of fun for all ages.”

The “Italians of San Joaquin County,” book by historian Ralph Clark and the Pacific Italian Alliance published in 2014 by Arcadia Publishing explores the rich history of Italians in California. According to the book, Italians were some of the first Europeans to make their home in California when fishermen from Italy arrived in the 1800s.

To this day many Italian organizations can be found in San Joaquin County, including the Italian Athletic Club of Stockton, Waterloo Gun and Bocci Club, and the Pacific Italian Alliance.

This year's organizers anticipate more than 5,000 attendees.

Here are 10 things you don't want to miss from Festa Italiana this year.

Italian mercato and all the food

Pizza, chicken parmesan sandwiches, gelatos and expressos.

The Italian market and food court will satisfy your Italian cravings. Not only will you find Italian cuisine but gifts and apparel. The Pacific Italian Alliance booth in the pavilion will sell tote bags as well.

Italian History Display

Want to immerse into the history of Italian culture in San Joaquin County? Festa Italian will have just that.

The Pacific Italian Alliance will have photos, historic stories, books by Italians and more for you to learn about the rich history of Italians in the area.

“This year in the Italian history museum ‘historia de famiglia’ we are honoring the late accordion player Steve Trucco. For many years Steve has entertained as the Opening Act at Festa each year. He was beloved by the entire community,” Trezza said. “We will have a large display of accordions along with many other local Italian history displays. It’s a festival favorite!”

Live music and entertainment

American tenor, Pasquel Esposito is back once again sponsored by John and Maxine Ferraioloat the Festa Italiana to headline.

Esposito who has toured internationally will be live on the Main Stage at noon on Sunday.

With two stages at Festa Italiana, live music will overflow the event. The Main Stage, sponsored by Morada Produce brings "The Trucco Band" to "The Anthony “Nino” Lane Band" from Monterey. While the Benvenuti Stage, sponsored by the Lagorio Family of Companies will have the "Stockton Garage Combo" to the "Nicolini Brothers."

Main Stage: 

• 10:30 a.m., The Trucco Band

• 12 p.m., Pasquale Esposito

• 2 p.m., Bianca Orsi & Jose Maldonado

• 3 p.m., The Anthony “Nino” Lane Band

Benvenuti Stage:

• 10:15 a.m., Stockton Garage Combo

• 11:30 a.m., Kerri Scott

• 12:15 p.m., Stockton Garage Combo

• 1:30 p.m., Kerri Scott

• 2:30 p.m., Nicolini Brothers

Italian art

As you enjoy your day at the festival stop by and watch Plein Air Painters create. There will also be Italian street painting and a Infarota with flower petals that will adorn the streets.

Bambini Zone (kids zone)

The little ones also have their own zone filled with fun. The Bambini zone is the kid's zone with clowns, accordion players, entertainers and interactive Italian art projects.

There will also be a stage with entertainment for children at the Bambini Stage sponsored by Adventist Health you will find “Rhymosaurs” to “Sparkles & Ravioli.”

Bambini Stage:

• 10 a.m., Rhymosaurs

• 10:30 a.m., Bambini Dancers

• 11:15 a.m., Rhymosaurs

• 11:45 a.m., Sparkles & Ravioli

• 12:45 p.m., Rhymosaurs

• 1:45 p.m., Sparkles & Ravioli

• 2:30 p.m., Bambini Dancers & Dance Lessons

• 3:30 p.m., Sparkles & Ravioli

Boss of the Sauce Contest

Is your sauce to die for? Join in the fun and enter the "Boss of the Sauce Contest" and win the title. The Boss of the Sauce title will be announced at the end of the day, the winner will receive a trophy.

Locals interested in becoming sauce judges can enter for only $5. Sauce judging begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Bocce Ball and Salami Toss games

Free lessons in Bocce Ball will be available for anyone looking to learn a new game.

But that will not only be the only game. Salami toss will test your aim as you throw potatoes at the hanging salami.

Wine and olive oil tastings

If wine and olive oil tastings are your thing, you will love the booths at the pavilion. Purchase wine-tasting tickets at the ticket booth just outside the pavilion.

Automobili Italian Auto Show

If you are a car enthusiast or specifically an Italian automobile enthusiast you will want to be there for the Automobili Italian Auto Show.

The only criteria to enter the show are to own a "beautiful" Italian car or to be an Italian with a "beautiful" car.

Pizza Pie tossing demonstrations, cooking demos

Want to learn how to bake a pizza in a pizza oven? You can learn as you watch a celebrity chef cook and toss a pizza live.

From Frittata to Creating Charcuterie Board chef demonstrations will be in full effect at Festa Italiana. Learn from the best with these demonstrations sponsored by the Collins Electrical Company /Gini Family.

• 11 a.m., Frittata, Italian Chef Gary Giovanetti

• 12:45 p.m., Italian Cocktails, Nicole Snyder and Rozi Casqueiro

• 1:45 p.m., Creating Charcuterie Boards, The modern-day Antipasto Platters, Alisa Martinez, Owner Only Boards

• 3 p.m., Italian Pasta Salad, Chef Adrian Cardenas

Go have fun

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 11

Where: Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, 413 E Lockeford St, Lodi

Admission: $10 Pre-sale tickets (sold at participating locations) $15 at the gate, kids under 12 are free with a paying adult

Pre-sale tickets participating locations: (Last day to purchase is Friday, June 9)

• Gian's Deli, 2112 Pacific Avenue, Stockton

• SASS! Public Relations, 628 Lincoln Center, Stockton

• Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, 413 E. Lockeford Street, Lodi

• Rinaldi's Market, 4625 Duncan Road, Linden

• the Fruit Bowl, 8767 E. Waterloo Road, Stockton

Information: https://festa-italiana.com/

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached atarocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record athttps://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Here are 10 things you don't want to miss at Festa Italiana