In the spirit of Italian Heritage Month, Bella Vita Fest celebrates Italian culture with chalk art, Italian music and wine, all in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy, October 19-20, 2024.
More than 30+ expert chalk artists, depicting Italian themes, will line the streets of Little Italy, with live Italian music, Italian wine tasting, Italian merchants and Italian food for purchase. Plus, more than 20 Italian winemakers from 10-plus regions of Italy will be offering tastings, via Vicolo del Vino.
The festival is free to attend and live chalk art is free to view; entrance at 550 W. Date Street, with a separate wine tasting ticket. Tickets – now on sale at www.bellavitafest.com – are $25 for 5 tastes and $55 for 12 tastes. An early bird discount is available until Friday, Sept. 20, where 5 tastes are $20 and 12 tastes are $45.
“Bella Vita Fest has been on the drawing table for a long time, and last year’s inaugural event was very well received – San Diegans love to experience chalk art being made – plus, all the Italian wine, music and food…you feel like you’re in Italy!” said Curt Brooker, Director. “The festival is a unique experience for attendees to view more than 30 chalk art paintings being created live before your eyes on the pavement, all while treating yourself to a wide array of authentic Italian wines and food and listening to live music with an Italian flair. It’s a great weekend in San Diego’s Little Italy!”
October is Italian Heritage month, and the festival celebrates the tradition of street painting which began in 16th century Italy with traveling artists, many of whom had been brought into the cities to work on the cathedrals. When the work was done, they would often recreate the paintings of “Madonna” on the pavement; they became known as Madonnari. Street painting thrives today in festivals throughout the world. Street painters prefer this temporary performance art form that is created live before the eyes on the asphalt.
Bella Vita is brought to San Diego by the ArtWalk San Diego team who produces the annual, spring Mission Federal ArtWalk, ArtWalk Liberty Station each August, and ArtWalk Carlsbad, which is coming up Sept. 21-22, 2024.
The event will run from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on Bella Vita Fest, please visit www.bellavitafest.com.
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