Lancaster Festa Italia plan for city centre

Lancaster Business Improvement District (BID) is set to host the inaugural and highly anticipated Lancaster Festa Italia on Sunday September 9.

The idea which was instigated by Church Street businesses Buccelli’s and JOSEPH+CO and developed by Lancaster BID.

The event will showcase all things Italian, from Italian street food to music and entertainment to themed children’s activities.

Bruno Buccelli, proprietor of Buccelli’s said: “Since I opened Buccelli’s in 2016 I have seen how much the people of Lancaster love Italy and Italian products.

“It has always been a dream of mine to run an event like this in such a vibrant city and with the help of Paul Cusimano (of JOSEPH+CO) and the support of Lancaster BID, my vision is coming true.

“For a small town there are so many Italian businesses from food to fashion. It goes to show with so many successful Italian businesses, in such a small area, that the people of Lancaster must love their Roman roots!”

Lancaster Festa Italia will host a range of Italian stalls and Italian food providers in Market Street and Church Street.

These stalls will be complemented by Italian themed entertainment including singers, dancers and a Samba drumming band in Market Square. Market Square will also feature a pop up bar, selling premium Italian brands. There will also be magic shows and juggling workshops including plate spinning, Diablo and a Poi expert. The Dukes Theatre will also be joining in with the fun, showing a screening of the Italian classic Cinema Paradiso.

Paul Cusimano, Proprietor of JOSEPH+CO said: “We are aiming to offer the complete Italian experience. The Italian passion for food, life, drink, music, vehicles and more. Lancaster BID staff and volunteers have been working to make this event a reality for months now, with assistance from the Italian Chamber of Commerce. Our hope is to make the event a memorable one and to eventually expand the event into a full weekend event, whilst at the same time ensuring its quality.”

The event has also been extended to encompass an umbrella canopy in New Street. This umbrella canopy, in red, white and green, will proudly hang from New Street in the run up to Lancaster Festa Italia from late July and will remain in place until early November, when they will be incorporated into the Light Up Lancaster celebrations. To extend Lancaster Festa Italia to more than just a single day event, the umbrella canopy will also be linked to a city centre trail, to encourage footfall and consumer spend over the summer holidays.

Rachael continued: “The idea of the umbrella canopy also came from our Levy Payers. Businesses on New Street highlighted the need to promote New Street, following eight months of scaffolding whilst the roof of the city museum was repaired. This initiative was particularly supported by Graham from Inspire Gifts & Gallery. It was great that we were able to link the Lancaster Festa Italia event to this initiative, to support a range of businesses operating in the city centre.”

The initiative has received overwhelming support from local businesses with confirmed sponsorship to date from Holdens Solicitors, JOSEPH+CO, Lancaster Guardian, Down To Earth, TESCO Bags of Help, Photo Baby and marketing partner Printing.Com Lancaster as well as umbrella sponsors Buccelli’s, Bella Italia, The Bridal Collection, JOSEPH+CO and Marcos. Other businesses wishing to benefit from promotion at this exciting event should contact the Lancaster BID team on 01524 590650 or email [email protected].

To keep up to date with further developments, or hear about all things Italian in Lancaster in the run up to the event, visit the Facebook page, by searching ‘Lancaster Festa Italia’.

ENDS 25/06/2018