Pittsburgh Little Italy Days 2017: Five Things You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA - Little Italy Days, the region’s largest ethnic heritage celebration, will take over Bloomfield again for four days beginning Thursday. The 15th annual festival will transform the neighborhood’s main street, Liberty Avenue, into a destination sport for Italian-themed entertainment and food.

Here are five things you need to know about the event:

1. Little Italy Days’ hours are Thursday from 6-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon-9 p.m. and Sunday, noon-6 p.m.

2. The event kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. the Liberty Avenue-Cedarville stage with a performance by Jimmy Sapienza and celebrity bocce tournaments featuring Steelers Hall of Famer Franco Harris, wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino, KDKA-TV reporter Paul Martino and more.

Other performers who will appear include singer Ron D’Amico; oldies band Magic Moments; teen song and dance ensemble The East End Kids, La Sorelle Di Bacco; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute band The Jersey 4. Click the link for Little Italy Days’ complete entertainment schedule.

3. Yes, there will be a pizza stretching demonstration.
The fine folks from the Caliente Pizza and Draft House will put one on at the Liberty-Taylor state Saturday at 3:30. If that makes you hungry, participate in the 4:30 p.m. Tambellini’s pasta eating contest at the Liberty Avenue-Cedarville stage.

4. Here’s where you can park:

• Free parking and shuttle service from UPMC Luna Garage, 5111 Baum Boulevard, Saturday, 2-9 p.m. and Sunday 1-6 p.m. Drop off and pickup at Liberty and Gross Street.Parking courtesy of UPMC

• Free parking at the Cedarville and Taylor Street lots Thursday through Sunday

• Free parking at Liberty and Winebiddle garage, Saturday, 3-9 p.m. and Sunday noon-6 p.m., courtesy of Allegheny Health Network.

• Paid parking at the Liberty and Aspen garage, the Shur Save lot and the 718 State Way lot.

There are other free and paid parking spaces around the festival footprint.

5. Here’s what streets will be closed:

• Parking spots on Liberty from Ella to Gross streets will be closed beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m., although the avenue will remain open.

• Liberty Avenue will be closed from Taylor to Gross streets from Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 8 p.m.

• Closed for the entire festival (Thursday at 6 p.m.- Sunday at 6 p.m.): Saphire Way, Pearl Street next to Citizen’s Bank from Liberty to Corday Way; Garnet Way; Cedarville St next to the Pleasure Bar from Liberty to Corday Way; State Way and Edmond Street next to PNC from Liberty to Corday Way.

Photo via Little Italy Days.