Carolina Wealth Partners Music Stage
Musica della Festa
Sponsored by Carolina Wealth Partners
Since 2018, Festa Italiana NC has provided the largest, most comprehensive, annual showcase of authentic musica italiana in tutta la peninsola intero e nel mondo italico / Italian music from across the peninsula and throughout the Italian diaspora. For seven full hours, Festa goers can enjoy sounds ancient and modern, acoustic, electric and electronic, across the Bel Canto; classical opera; contemporary singer-songwriter; mid-century crooner, light opera and show tunes; rock and roll; synth rock; and traditional Italian roots and folk (musica popolare).
2026 Festa Entertainment Stage
The Entertainers
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11 a.m.
Riccardo Compagnoni: Accordionist from Rome, Lazio, Italy. Traditional Italian folk and ballroom dance tunes. First appearance at Festa!
Sponsored by Spotlight Business Management, Apex, N.C.
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11:45 a.m.
Jason Damico: American Italian singer-songwriter and master guitarist. From Chapel Hill, N.C. Second appearance at Festa!
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12:45 p.m.
Ariel Reed and Mitchener Howell
Classical opera and Bel Canto, with accompanist Jon Latané. From Durham and Raleigh, N.C.
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1:30 p.m.
Official Opening Ceremonies: With civic, cultural, and Festa dignitaries, including Dr. Valentina Cecchi, the honorary Italian consul serving North Carolina!
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2:15 p.m.
Kapela Strada Trio, featuring Neapolitan mandolin, violin, piano accordion, classical guitar, and tamburello. From Alexandria, VA. First appearance at Festa!
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3:30 p.m.
Olivia and Anthony Bucciero: Mid-century American Italian crooning. From Myrtle Beach, S.C.
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4:30 p.m.
Mebanesville: Eight-piece traditional and contemporary acoustic-electric Italian melody and song. From Mebane, N.C.
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6 p.m.
David Quick and the Mr. Wonderful Jazz Quintet: Mid-century Italian Americana songbook, smooth and hot. From Pittsboro, N.C.
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6:50 p.m.
Community Tarantella, with the Apex Bella Donnas, Raffle Drawing e Festa al Fine with Mayor Jacques Gilbert, Town of Apex!
And don’t miss quaggiu dalla strada (down on the street):
Tom Weierick, European Hurdy Gurdy (Street Organ Grinder), in his second Festa appearance!
From 2020: Check out the Festa’s 2.5-hour online benefit musical concert, featuring 32 artists and performance groups with a total of 44 performances, spanning from 20 provinces, regions, and states across Italy, Morocco and the U.S. here!
Interested in performing or helping with Festa’s stagecraft?
Please contact Larry Vellani at Larry@festanc.org or 919.304.3670.
