Daytime Talks
Tastings and Demonstrations
Italian-themed events held around the Fairfield Square, hosted by local businesses and organizations.
9:00 am Performances by Italian performance artists Douglas Grew and Lionel Bottari from Chicago. - Farmers Market / Howard Park
9:45 Local espresso aficionado Robert Reeder talks about the art of coffee and how to make true Italian espresso at home. - Cafe Paradiso
10:30 Talk on Mediterranean Coral. Italy is famous for its
fabulously natural Red Coral and golden yellow coral found off its shores. - Crest Jewel
11:00 Artist Christopher Kufner will display original oil paintings and large format photographs of Tuscan Landscapes. He will talk about those "favorite places" that keep inspiring him to return to Italy. - Americus Diamond
11:45 Local food stars Steve Boss and Kathy Dubois will cook an Italian Summer Pasta Surprise featuring fresh local veggies. - At Home Store
Noon The Fairfield Madonnari Group meets for pizza and refreshment, watches a short video on Nedo Consoli's visit to Fairfield, then begins to transform a section of Fairfield's streets into sacred art. - ICON Gallery
Italian Lunch Break - Make sure to stop by TOP OF THE ROCK and enjoy their specialty Italian lunch dishes. Something quick, try Cafe Paradiso's fresh-made panini. For dessert, try gelato (Italian ice cream) on the Square.
12:30 Italian American author Joe Benevento will read from his short story “Rebirth In Richmond Hill”, a story about interactions between an elderly Italian American woman and an elderly Indian man. Sponsored by Fairfield Public Library. - Central Park on the Square
1:15 Fairfield Figure Drawing Session - "L'arte Della Figura Umana." Poses from famous Italian paintings in graphite,charcoal, oil, and pastel. Models will be draped.
- Morning Star Studio's Sunset Gallery
2:00 Italian Opera. Way Off Broadway, Iowa's only professional Musical Theater Company, takes you on a fun romp through Italian Opera led by Margaret Clair and featuring WOB's summer interns. - Fellowship Hall
3:00 Talk on Italian Chocolates. Taste some of the finest chocolates from Italian chocolatiers like Amedei and Domori. Try a baci or Italian flavored handmade chocolates and specialty cheesecakes. - Chocolate Cafe
3:45 A display from the Italian American Cultural Center of Des Moines. Video depicting the unique impact of Italian-Americans on Iowa history. Enter a special drawing for gift baskets from Olive Garden. - Fellowship Hall
4:00 How are your soccer skills? Score three goals and win a slice of pizza. Proceeds to Fairfield Area Soccer Association who provides scholarships for local kids.
- Southwest Corner of the Central Park Square
5:00 pm on the Fairfield Square
“All Things Italian” Street Festival Begins!
Fairfield Town Square transforms into an Italian ‘piazza’.
• Over 2,000 freshly-filled Cannoli desserts.
• More than 1,000 homemade Lasagna dinners.
• Italian arias performed on the Square
• Italian dance troupe from Des Moines
• Canvas and face painting for children
• Free family fun - Bocce (Italian lawn bowling)
• Madonnari (street chalk) Local artists hit the streets to decorate the festival with
beautiful images
• Commedia Dell'Arte - Lionel Bottari, Douglas Grew, and Jean Parisi, founding
members of the Italian-American Theater Company of Chicago, weave contemporary
and traditional elements of comic theatre and pantomime.
• Live marble sculpting demonstration using Italy's finest white statuary marble. Try
your hand at it too.
• Italian automobiles
• Strolling musicians
• Figure drawing demonstration
9:30 pm After the festival, keep the party going! Dance to the sounds of local musician Doug Daller and his band. Paul “Sax Man” Weddle returns to Fairfield after his Soul Review knockout performance - Dance Band at the Gazebo
