Salute to San Diego's Sicilian & Italian Heritage

SICILIAN PUPPET DISPLAY

This year's Festival is proud to feature a historic display of Sicilian Puppets from the renowned collection of Pasadena resident Allan Cook.

Puppet Shows

Young and old alike will enjoy two special performances of Doni Smith's Marionette Variety Show, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, at 12 Noon and 2 pm in the Children's Area of the Festival.

Madonnari Street Painting

The Sicilian Festival is proud to welcome world-renowned Chalk Artist Lori Escalera to this year’s event. Lori will create a work of art on the street by using chalk as her medium and the pavement as her canvas as a part of our salute to Sicilian and Italian culture. In 1994 Lori began Madonnari (chalk) Street Painting. Today, Lori is an internationally recognized premier Madonnari Artist and is hired to be guest artist at street painting events globally and across the nation. In 2008 Lori became one of the worlds top recognized Street Painters in Modannari Style Street Painting. You won’t want to miss this exceptional artist’s work. She will be located near the Sicilian Cultural Pavilion.Make sure to stop by to view this unique creation of art that will unfold right before your eyes throughout the course of the day.

CULTURAL PAVILION

Now in its second year, the Sicilian Festival is proud to feature its Sicilian Cultural Pavilion. Stop by to view a traditional Sicilian Carretta, a world-renowed Madonnari chalk artist, fishermen repairing their nets, a display of the fishing industry that employed Sicilian Americans in the last century, an authentic produce cart filled with traditional Sicilian vegetables, Renaissance musicians, chalk artists and artisans, and more.....Contact the Convivio Society for more information or to offer volunteer assistance or to participate.

We will feature a display of vintage photos that visually portray the history of the Sicilian and Italian communities in San Diego, as they evolved through the decades. We welcome photo contributions and oral or written histories from anyone who would like to contribute. For more information, log onto the Convivio Society web site for more information or call the toll free number at (888) 485-4825 .