Inspired by traditional festivals over in Italy, the Festa is all about the community and family coming together – from Bambinis to Nonnas and everything in between. Festa Italiana, therefore, will be an amazing place for groups of all ages to spend the weekend, with a special child-friendly programme of activities scheduled throughout.
This will include a collaboration with Play Factore who will be bringing the spirit of Play Factore thrill and entertainment to Festa Italiana via the Circus House. A team of teachers, technical staff, volunteers, friends, members and visitors make The Circus House an inspiring organisation of dedicated and caring individuals who put on a great show and brighten the streets and stages of Manchester and beyond.
The Play Factore team will be taking over the Festa Marquee where kids will be able to enjoy all the adventure of the circus including plate spinning and hula hoop workshops, trapeze artistry and juggling!
Play Factore is the UK’s leading indoor family entertainment arena, housing the largest play frame in the UK along with a host of other unique attractions. Based in Manchester next to the Intu Trafford Centre, Play Factore provides a complete day out for families.
There’ll also be traditional Italian foodie fun at the Festa, with the ‘Bambini Cucina’ sessions – cookery classes for the little ones!
This will include a kids’ pasta masterclass with Carmela Sereno Hayes of Carmela’s Kitchen.
With roots in Puglia and Molise in Southern Italy, Carmela is now based in Northamptonshire and loves to share her passion for Italian food. An Italian cookery author, food writer, demonstrator and cookery event planner, Carmela’s passion for authentic Italian food, drink and culture is inspired by home cooked family dinners around the table back in Italy and her new book A Passion for Pasta is out now!
Carmela is coming to Manchester especially for the Festa and her kids’ pasta masterclasses will be popping up in the Festa Marquee on Sunday 15th of July from 12noon. She will be teaching kids how to make pasta dough in a variety of shapes. Don’t worry adults…she’ll also be running a grown-ups class on the Saturday.
There’ll be plenty of food and drink to choose from for little ones across the Festa site too including lots of fresh juice, pizza, pasta, ice cream, crepes and of course Nutella… It’s basically foodie heaven for kids and grown-ups alike.Plus it’s all taking place in the lovely, family-friendly green spaces of Cathedral Gardens with plenty of space for toddling – bambini heaven!
The Play Factore Circus House will be open from 3-5pm on Friday 13th and from 11am-5pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July. All activities are free to join in.
Carmela’s Kitchen Kids Pasta Masterclasses are taking place on Sunday 15th July from 12 pm. Sessions will run throughout the day and will be free to attend. Children taking part must be accompanied by an adult.
Full information and updates can be found on the festival website www.festaitalianauk.com.
