Ongoing COVID-19 Concerns Cancel Milwaukee's Festa Italiana

MILWAUKEE, WI — Although organizers of Milwaukee’s Festa Italiana were hoping to remain on track for an in-person celebration this summer, health concerns surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have forced the festival’s cancelation for the second straight year.

Organizers announced the decision to cancel the event on Friday, citing “circumstances associated with COVID-19” as the reason to again keep the festival from being held. The festival, which takes place in July, was on track to be held this year after the event was canceled last year due to the pandemic. But after further consideration, however, officials deemed it necessary to not go on with their plans to hold it this summer.

“COVID-19 has impacted virtually every business and industry across the country. Around the world festivals, sporting events, conferences, and community celebrations have been cancelled, or postponed, due to lingering effects of this virus,” Joe Emanuele, president of the Italian Community Center and Festa director, said in a news release Friday. “Unfortunately, Festa Italiana in Milwaukee is among the festivals that will have to wait until next year.”

In making the decision to cancel the event for a second straight year, Emanuele cited the health and safety of festival vistors, volunteers, vendors and others associated with the three-day event. He said that despite having faith county and state health officials’ ability to administer the coronavirus vaccine, festival officials decided it would be more prudent to wait until the vaccines could be administered to more people before moving ahead with plans to hold the annual celebration.

Officials said the festival would return on a bigger and better scale in 2022.

“The social impact of holding Festa Italiana is near and dear to our hearts and brings a stronger resilience to the Italian Community Center and the City of Milwaukee,” Emanuele said.