Italian culture in the tropics to be celebrated at inaugural festival
A colourful 10-day festival celebrating the culture and values of a community integral to the Far North has been unveiled in vibrant style.
Cairns
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ITALY in the Tropics is the theme of the inaugural Cairns Italian Festival to be held from July 28 to August 6.
Committee president Steve Cordenos said the festival would attract interstate and international visitors.
“The festival will showcase the flavours of Italian food, culture, family values, history, while embracing the entire community,” Mr Cordenos said.
“There will be an array of events scheduled over the 10 days – a Masquerade Gala Ball, Hall of Fame, Opera on the Reef, Big Fat Italian Wedding theatre restaurant, Italian movie nights, a Joe Avati comedy night, La Dolce Vita, soccer, and music.”
The Italian Saturday Festival, with James Liotta as MC, will showcase Italian food from various regions of Italy along with cooking demonstrations, children’s entertainment, the best of Italian wine, and fireworks.
“We are looking at the bigger picture and have the full support of the Cairns Regional Council,” Mr Cordenos said.
He said Italian communities from Atherton, Dimbulah, Edmonton, Gordonvale, Innisfail, Mareeba, Mossman, Mutchilba, Port Douglas, Silkwood, Tully, and Yungaburra would be involved.
“It will provide an opportunity for the community to rethink how the Italian story is told in Cairns by delivering a diverse and unique program of activities that are engaging and that reignite intercultural and inter-generational community connections,” Mr Cordenos said.
The Far North has a strong Italian heritage starting in the 1880s when Italian workers were instrumental constructing the railyway line from Cairns to Herberton.
Italian immigrants played a pivotal role establishing sugarcane farms and developing diverse horticultural enterprises as well as being influential business people.
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Originally published as Italian culture in the tropics to be celebrated at inaugural festival
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