Thousands came together at Lodi’s biggest venue to honor the deep Italian roots in the county.
The Festa Italiana on Sunday at the Lodi Grape Festival grounds brought locals from all around to listen to live music, eat cultural staples like pizza, gelato and gnocchi and a learn about the history of Italians in the region.
Bill Trezza, president of the Pacific Italian Alliance, said this year marks the 11th anniversary of
the festival.
“The first two years we did it out in east Stockton and we ran out of the room,” he said.
Historically, many migrated during the late 1800s from areas across the coast of Italy and made
up a significant percentage of the county’s population at one point. He pointed to a map of Italy
inside the Lodi grape festival fairgrounds’ pavilion.
“If you look at that map, they come from Liguria, which is Geneva and Saskano, which is
Florence,” Back where I grew up in New Jersey, it’s like everybody’s south of Rome, you know,
from the other provinces. It’s just the way it is, how they migrate it, but we’re all Italian, we love
our Italian culture.”
Trezza also provided context for the event’s overarching goal for the community. “We want to
make sure we have something grand like this that’s not just a dinner. So the four clubs work
hard to stay together and do it.”
These groups involved were the Pacific Italian Alliance, the Italian Athletic Club of Stockton,
Central California School of Italian Language and Culture and Liguri nel Mondo, which share
decades of tradition and activity in the region.
Along the streets of the fairgrounds, families admired the arts and crafts put together by
vendors. Vendor Ralph Mark sat inside the fairgrounds pavilion selling his book Italians of San
Joaquin County, which is the result of many years of research and interviews with families of
Italian heritage.
“I just like talking to people about local history. Now I always get (people saying) ‘Hey you left
this out,’ because everybody’s familiar with the book now.”
Another pair of vendors put handmade crafts and jewelry on display under a tent. Co-owner
Antoinette Wilkinson stated she resides in Stockton, but much of her Genovese family
lives in Linden.
“I started last year,” Wilkinson said. “I asked my husband, since he already makes jewelry for
family.” said Wilkinson as live Italian music played behind her.
With free parking and no admission for kids under 12, the festival drew families from all over.
Young attendees kept busy at the Bambini Zone, which featured clowns and dancers, while
others joined in traditional Italian games at the bocce ball court and the salami toss.
Those with empty stomachs enjoyed the Mercato, an Italian-style farmers market.
Meanwhile, local wineries hosted wine tastings, giving adults a flavorful glimpse into the
region’s vineyard scene.
Visitors Deborah Taylor and Frank Ambrosiny, came from Oakland to see the festivities.
“This is the first time we’ve been actually to this one,” said Taylor, who commented on the food.
“We just had the Italian sausage sandwich. It was not big enough,” she joked.
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