Key Milwaukee

July 2012

An A-Z visitors guide to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Sponsored by Key Magazine Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Key COVER FEATURE It's food, it's family, it's Tradizione Festa Italiana 35TH fills lakefront July 19-22 FESTA ITALIANA, the largest Italian event of its kind in America, celebrates its 35th anniversary this month by bringing the best in entertainment, food, special Italian events and fireworks every night to Henry Maier Festival Park ( Summerfest grounds) from Thursday, July 19, through Sunday, July 22. As Milwaukee's first lakefront ethnic festival, this four-day event has become known to Milwaukeeans and visitors from throughout the Midwest simply as "Festa." NEW ENTERTAINMENT More than 35 artists will perform on five different stages at Festa 2012. "As we celebrate 35 years of Festa, we have an entertainment lineup that represents all areas of music from opera and song to dance, swing, coun- try and even magic," comments Dave Spano, pres- ident of Festa Italiana. Entertainment highlights include: • Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, known as "America's favorite little big band," plays the Miller Stage at 9 p.m. Friday and Chicago's Ides of March brings its platinum hits to Festa on the Spiked Island Stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. • Making his Festa debut at 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Briggs Brothers 8 Stage is the Louis Prima Jr. Band with vocalist Sara Spiegel. Las Vegas-based Prima is the youngest child of the late Louis Prima, the origi- nal "King of Swing." • Sam Llanas, founding member of the Bo Deans, singer Iliana Incandela, classical-crossover artist Michael Castaldo and escape artist Mario Manzini round out the Festa lineup. Returning to the Miller Stage Saturday and Sunday will be Arrival: the ABBA Tribute Band from Sweden, which has toured more than 35 countries around the world and was a big hit at Festa 2011. And a headline country singer will be announced July 9. TWO CELEBRITY CHEFS In addition to hosting chefs from some of Milwaukee's best restaurants, the Cucina Showcase for the first time will present Rossella Rago, host of the online show Cooking with Nonna and winner of the Food Network's recent Battle Italiana. She joins popular returning celebrity chef Nick Stellino. A special 35th anniversary canolli eating contest takes center stage at 3 p.m. Saturday and Lo Duca Wines presents wine tastings Friday through Sunday at the hospitality area of the Briggs Big Backyard stage. For a complete taste of Festa, visitors know to stop at the many food vendors, including many of Milwaukee's leading Italian restaurants.

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