The
emphasis that Italian-Americans, and
Italian immigrants in general, place
upon "family" means that any festival
based on a love of "All Things Italian"
is going to be very kid-friendly in just
about every aspect.
Everywhere you look
there's food, music and colorful dancing.
(We only ask that they don't go in the
Wine and Beer Gardens!) Nevertheless,
there are some activities at the Italian
Festival that have been specifically
designed for the younger set. Here they are below.
Tino's
Cortile.
In memory of our good friend and avid
supporter, Tino Lazzaretti, the Kids
Courtyard at the Italian Festival has been
renamed "Tino's Cortile." In this small
way, Festa seeks to honor his legacy of
promoting education for children,
especially children of immigrants, as a
means to fulfillment of "the American
Dream." Sponsored in perpetuity by the
Costantino Lazzaretti Endowment.
Italian
Puppies at Italian Festival.
The All-Italian-Breeds Dog Show is in the SC Pavilion, also known as Tino's Cortile. There will be separate booths for each breed including Sicilian Sight Hounds known in Italian as Cirneci dell'Etna, Italian Greyhounds (center), Lagotti Romagnoli (right), Spinoni Italiani (far right) and Cani Corsi, amazingly big mastiffs.
Puppy Parades: Each day at 12:30 and 2:30 PM, their handlers will bring them out on a leash to be petted as they tell you all about their breed. Your kids will not want to miss this!
Olde World Puppet Theater presents "Pinocchio" for 30th Annual
For our 30th Annual Italian Festival, Festa Italiana has chosen to bring back our most popular marionette troupe, the Olde World Puppet Theater from Portland, Oregon. Their version of "Pinocchio" is light-hearted and action-packed. For almost 50 minutes, the four puppeteers move around the stage bringing an entire cast of characters - much like Pinocchio himself - to life. The puppets even enlist the puppeteers to play some of the roles. It is very Italian (the soundtrack is by Rossini, conducted by Toscanini) but the voices are in English so everyone gets the jokes. This is a madcap comedy romp and everyone loves it!
The Festa Pizza Toss (What
a Show! Don't Miss it!) 12 Noon, 2 & 4 PM, Saturday, and 12 Noon, 2
& 4 PM, Sunday - Tino's Cortile, Seattle
Center Pavilion. Sponsored by the Washington
State Grand Lodge of the Sons of Italy in America.
Soccer Classes! The OSA FC, formerly the Tacoma FC, has announced they will provide an inflatable soccer court in Tino's Cortile, the kids courtyard at the Italian Festival at Seattle Center, and conduct soccer clinics for children of all ages! On hand to teach will be the almost all-Italian coaches and team members from both the men's squad and the women's squad, and, while supplies last, they will give out prizes and premiums to the young players.
Design
your own tile - free - and bake it in the
oven to take home, 11 AM to 4 PM, both days at the
big orange booth sponsored by HOME
DEPOT, Tino's Cortile, Seattle Center
Pavilion.
On Saturday, the children of Cinquegranelli
Montessori School will sing and dance to
Italian songs on the Moretti Mainstage in the
Fisher Pavilion, 10:30 AM. www.cinquegranelli.com
From 11 AM on, both days, Giggles Entertainment
will be doing Face
Painting in Tino's Cortile for a modest
charge.
Tino's
Cortile.
