Coronavirus Leads To Cancellation of Milwaukee's Festa Italiana

MILWAUKEE, WI – Due to ongoing concerns surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Italian Community Center officials on Tuesday announced that the annual Festa Italiana has been canceled. The event, which was originally scheduled to take place between July 17 and 19, was in the full planning stages and organizers had anticipating continuing as planned with the annual festival. However, after much consideration, Italian Community Center board members decided it best to cancel the annual celebration.

The event is the longest-running ethnic festival along the lakefront and becomes the second major city festival to be impacted because of coronavirus. The city's annual Summerfest event has been postponed until September.

“Due to the unforeseen circumstance of COVID-19, the Italian Center Board of Directors have deemed it the responsible course of action,” a news release from Joseph T. Emanuele, ICC president and general chairman of the festival announced on Tuesday regarding the decision to cancel.

“The coronavirus has impacted virtually every business and industry across the country. The health and safety of our employees, volunteers, vendors, members and certainly our attendees are our highest priority to ensure a safe environment for everyone.”

Event organizers indicated the festival will return to its glory bigger and better in 2021.