Wakefield's Festival Italia: Food, Fun, and Community

The second annual Wakefield Italian Festival promises to bring a bigger and better celebration of Italian culture than last year, with twice as many vendors, an extended amount of Main Street closed to cars, outdoor dining, and much more.

"It's larger, better - it's going to be fabulous," said organizer Selectmen Paul DiNocco, head of the Wakefield Event Planning Committee. "We pulled out all the stops this year."

Cue the mechanical bull.

The festival starts on Friday, August 12, with an Italian buffet dinner at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Colonial. Tickets are $25 and must be sold in advance. 

On Saturday from 2-8 p.m., the main festival begins with a large swath of the downtown area closing off to cars so that stores, restaurants and spectators can pour out into the streets. Main Street will be closed from Yale Ave up through Richardson Street/.

As for entertainment, Fiat and Harley Davidson will be showing off some hot wheels, two antique car clubs will be in attendance, Boston Sports Clubs of Lynnfield will be conducting free zumba classes and a moonbounce for children, 50-something businesses will be setting up outdoor shops and 20 stores will be representing different regions of Italy, through costumes, food, music, and other surprises.

Last year's big hit - the "Wheel of Chance," returns, and will be stationed at the Event Planning Committee booth at the corner of Main Street and Albion Street. Spin the wheel for a chance to win gift certificates and other prizes.

Eight Wakefield restaurants will be setting up outdoor seating, including , , and who have all been granted a special one-day liquor license.

"The most important thing is the businesses that will be out the in the street that day," said DiNocco. "We're trying to give the businesses of Wakefield a way of promoting themselves in a huge event. We want to get the people of Wakefield more involved in the community spirit that we can offer to them."

Selectmen DiNocco said the festival is important because some of the businesses in town can struggle from time-to-time to keep their doors open.

"Things like this help promote business and promoting business ultimately helps the town," he said. "It's one big circle."

For more information and to buy tickets to Friday's dinner, visit the Wakefield Events Planning Committee website. And check back to Wakefield Patch on Thursday for a specific guide on what each participating vendor has to offer to the community.

[Vendors, fill out this form to let the town know what you've got in store for this weekend.]