The Fairfield Town Square will be transformed into an Italian ‘piazza’ for the evening. We expect over 5,000 to come from all over Iowa to enjoy the festivities. This year the festival entertainment will be highlighted by the performance of four time World Acrobatic Pizza Champion Michael Shepherd. Local pizza restaurants will also compete in a Pizza Toss-Off to determine Fairfield’s Best Pizza Tosser. Sponsored by SOFIA (Society of Fairfield Italian Americans), this is the most popular Art Walk event, of the year

This year’s All Things Italian Festival also features:

• Live italian music and dance performances
• Free family fun including Bocce (Italian lawn bowling) and Morra (hand game)
• Sidewalk chalk art called Madonnari
• Canvas and face painting for children
• Piazza on the Square featuring fresh pasta making demonstration
• Free drawings of pasta, Italian wine and Italian-themed art print and more
• Exhibit of influential Italian Americans from Ellis Island; Italian artifacts
• Italian automobiles and motorcycles
• Acrobatic Pizza Tossing Contest
• Strolling Musicians
• Local Art Galleries
• Digital Photography Contest for teens featuring digital camera grand prize

Outdoor Games: Italian Outdoor games of Bocce (Italian lawn bowling) and Morra (hand game). These games are picnic games and are often played in tandem with Croquet or Badminton at outdoor events currently. However, they are traditional Italian games meant to inspire the whole family to get involved.

Madonnari Art: Sidewalk chalk art that is guaranteed to impress you. Madonnari came from the term Madonna, as the artists frequently drew renditions of the Madonna at festivals. Currently, Madonnari art ranging from breathtaking to goofy with the common denominator of amazement. These "chalk paintings" are guaranteed to make you re-evaluate any previous views on sidewalk art.

Face Painting: Canvas and face painting for children done by the talented Donna Smith. Proceeds from this event will go to Relay for Life.

Piazza on the Square: The Piazza is featuring cooking demonstrations, espresso making instructions and much more. This feature is intended to create a true sense of European shopping that will leave you dreaming of the fresh fruit and flowers of Italy. Free drawings of pasta, Italian wine and Italian-themed art print and more

T-shirt Sale: Christopher Kufner, local artist and owner of Americus Diamond will be donating one of his extraordinary drawings for a T-shirt design with the proceeds going to Women's Crisis Center in Ottumwa.

Historical Exhibit: Exhibit of influential Italian Americans from Ellis Island; Italian artifacts, and Fairfield Italian histories. This display really makes history come alive, demonstrating how connected we are to other parts of the world.

Italian automobiles and motorcycles: If you are a NASCAR fan, or simply enjoy the sound of a classic Ferrari engine and the sight of a cherry red Lamborgheni this is going to be a spectacular display of cars.

Acrobatic Pizza Tossing Contest: Michael Shepherd, world champion pizza Acrobat will be demonstrating how to "throw" pizza dough. Local Pizzeria's will be competing with Michael and selling their scrumptious pizza.

Live Italian music: The Square will be ringing will Italian music. Tenor extraordinaire, Quiliano Anderson, will be honoring us all with his amazing operatic tones. Jesse Mazzocolli, Italian Guitarist, will be spicing the scene up with his love of music, which he explains by shrugging, "I'm Italian."

Strolling Musicians: Not only will we have amazing musical performances on the square. Mintrels will be strolling the sidewalks and intoxicating our ears with Italian serenades.

En Plein Air: An unusual twist from the art galleries, we have the wonderful addition of artists who will be coming forth into the open air. En Plein Air (French for in the open air) artists will be painting the scene and selling their sketches and drawings on Mated displays.

Digital Photography Contest: This really is a community scene and to further entice teens to the family event there is a photography contest for teens featuring a digital camera grand prize.

Food: In addition to Team Cannoli there will be Team lasagna offering an authentic Italian Lasagna. Last year the Cannoli was such a success that Team Cannolli actually ran out. So, don't miss the once a year "All Things Italian" Cannoliwhich is famous throughout the Midwest.

Galleries

• NEW photographs of Tuscany by Christopher Kufner displayed in Americus Diamond. As well as a T-shirt depicting a painting of Tuscany for sale, proceeds going to the womens shelter in Ottumwa
• Iconiowa artists including: Bob Hoerlein, Jeri Felix, Suanna Breed, John Shirmer, Bill Teeple, Angela Mailander and more.
• New work by Beverly Stone, Wendy Joy Rounds, Judith Veeder and Jane Elgin in Galleria Imago Dei, located above noodle house.
• At Home Store feature art of Italian cooking
• Central Park will feature art from art competion for MSAE and new paintings by Suzanne Stryker
• Photography by Gordon Fikejs In the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center
• Elaine Duncan masks in Revelations
• Jack Donovan Gallery is featuring new exploration from his travels to asia
• Winter Moon Gallery features Original Raku pieces by Mark Wikins, paintings on Clay by Patty Hancock, and prints and pencil drawings by Greg Thatcher as well as Woodwork by Doug Adams
• Henderson Frames will be displaying original Watercolors and pastels, by John Evans, prints by artist Mark Shafer and my Iowa prints by Kathy Tollenare.
• Robert Herron will be signing copies of his book 'New Knowledge for New Results' at 21st Century Book & Gifts 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
• Thymely Solutions will be hosting Washington's Dodici's staff with their excellent homemade biscotti for the 3rd year running. Dodici's has been a consistent winner of numerous restaurant awards since it's beginning days with their Washington based Italian restaurant. Come over and get a taste of this fine Italian treat!
• Fairfield Nutrition will serve special Italian Spumoni smoothies.
• Kathleen G. Skagen, owner of Snowy River Pottery will be providing a functional pottery presentation at the Iowa State Bank Gallery on the Northeast Corner of the Fairfield Square.
• Song Fests Fairfield presents Italian Songs, Arias & Duets on Saturday, June 7. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. sharp in the piano room of Revelations, 112 N Main St.

For more info, go to All Things Italian or call 641-919-4277.