COLUMBUS — The Columbus Italian Festival returns to St. John the Baptist Italian Catholic Church this weekend, opening today under the theme “Roma Eterna — All Roads Lead to Rome.” The three-day festival, which draws about 35,000 attendees each year, runs through Sunday with live music, authentic cuisine, cooking demonstrations, local vendors, cultural exhibits and church tours.
Tonight’s highlights include a 5:15 p.m. ribbon-cutting for the festival’s new bocce courts, where the Columbus Italian Festival Bocce Classic will be held all weekend, plus a new Piazza del Bambini area with activities for young festivalgoers. Ohio trio Sorelle, finalists on season 23 of NBC’s “The Voice,” performs at 7:45 and 9:45 p.m.
Sunday centers on the festival parade, which travels from Goodale Park through Italian Village starting at 1 p.m., with Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro serving as grand marshal. A meet-and-greet with Fabbro follows at 2 p.m., alongside a high school marching band competition. Columbus Crew mascot Crew Cat makes appearances Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.
The festival closes Sunday with Mass at the church. Organizers describe the weekend as a homecoming for Italian-American families across central Ohio — and an open invitation to anyone who loves Italian food, music and culture.
