2011 ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

STAGE-Date Street and India

2:30 -3:30 pm

Giada De Laurentiis will conduct a cooking demonstration on the Date Street Stage, followed by a book signing in the Bella Sera Wine Pavilion.

4:00 -5:00 pm

Direct from New York City......Cristina Fontanelli will present a passionate salute to Italian American music live on stage.

5:15 -6:00 pm

Italian Tenor Rosario Monetti accompanied by Francesco Bucci

STAGE-Cedar Street and India

Sponsored by Tarantino Sausages

10:00-11:15 am

JUDY CIOTTI & JOHN CAIN

Judy Ciotti & Pianist John Cain will kick off the Festival with an exciting line up of tunes from the Italian American repertoire. You'll love Judy's renditions of dozens of songs made popular by such stars as Connie Francis and others, accompanied by piano virtuoso John Cain.



 

11:30 am-12:15 pm

SICILIAN FLAG PROCESSION

Don't miss a wonderful photo opportunity! An entourage of beautifully costumed Paesani will raise the Sicilian and other flags of Italy in an exquisite flag procession through the streets of San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood. Have your cameras ready for this colorful photo op!



 

12:15-12:45 pm

Introduction of VIPs and Queens of the House of Italy


12:45-2:00 pm



The nationally-acclaimed Roman Holiday Ensemble will delight the crowds with their high-energy, audience interactive shows. This ensemble has gained world-wide recognition with the success of their CD, The Italian Wedding, and appears at festivals and corporate events across the nation. They were recently voted the "Best Ethnic Band" by San Diego Magazine as part of their "best of" issue.

 

 

2:10-2:35 pm

BALBOA PARK ITALIAN DANCE TROUPE

Always a favorite at the Festival, the Italian Dance Troupe of Balboa Park will perform a variety of lively Italian and Sicilian dances to delight the crowds.

 

 

 

 

 

3:00-4:00 pm

PETER PAVONE & RICK MICHEL

Drinkin'-Singin'-Swingin' Salute to Frank Sinatra-Sammy Davis Jr.-Dean Martin, featuring the Sinatraville Orchestra

 

 

 

 

4:30-6:00 pm

THE SCREAMIN PRIMAS

The Screamin' Primas will be on hand to orchestrate a lively, fun-filled salute to the music of Louie Prima. The Screamin' Primas capture the spirit of Prima's extremely fun and entertaining show via their accurate live re-creations of Louis' hits performed in the original Louis Prima style. They will close the Sicilian Festival with a bang, complete with a Mardi-Gras style parade through the Festival area.

 



STAGE-Beech Street and India

10:00 am-12:45 pm

Z-BOP

The exciting and versatile Z-Bop Band will will open the Festival with their renditions of Italian American dance music as well as other swinging sounds of the decades.

 

 

 

1:00-3:15 pm

THE SICILIAN BAND

Enjoy the authentic Sicilian sounds of Tony and his Los Angeles-based band, featuring lively vocals and a wide range of Sicilian and Italian music.

 

 

 

 

3:30-6:00 pm

SICILIAN SWING

Direct from New Orleans, where his band Sicilian Swing jump jived and wailed for many years, comes Daniele Spadavecchia, accompanied this year by his local gypsy band. Listen to his hot renditions of all the Italian favorites....Louie Prima style. Sicilian Swing is sponsored in part by Evelyn Ascough D.D.S. - Cosmetic and General Dentist.




 
Piazza Basilone, Fir Street & India

 

10:00 -11:30 am

CARMELLO SARCONE on MANDOLIN

 

Sit back and relax to the melodic sounds of Carmello and his "mandolino" as he performs a wide variety of the most beloved Italian songs.

 

 

 

 

 

11:45 am -1:00 pm

SMILIN JACK

Accordion Sensation Smilin Jack will serenade visitors to the courtyard with his wide repertoire of Italian and popular melodies.




 

 

 

 

1:15 -2:45 pm

JOE TARANTINO

San Diego vocalist Joe Tarantino will present a show featuring the very best in the Italian and Italian American musical repertoire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3:00 -4:45 pm

PIZZARO BROTHERS

 

The incredible young piano virtuosos, the Pizarro Brothers, will return to the Sicilian Festival to "wow" the audience with their incredible dual piano renditions of a wide variety of Italian and classical melodies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

5:00 -6:00 pm

THE SINATRA GUY

 

The Sinatra Guy will entertain you with his swinging renditions of Frank Sinatra's best, as well as those of Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and other notable Italian American vocalists. Put on your dancing shoes and delight in the great sounds of the Sinatra Guy performing 'Ol Blue Eye's hits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE-Grape Street and India

10:00 am-11:30 am

TRIO GADJO

Let's welcome this young trio of accomplished musicians who will present a sizzling repertoire of jazz tunes a part of their first appearance at the Sicilian Festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11:45 am-12:20 pm

Soprano Delynn Ketcherside sings a wide variety of opera selections

 

 

12:30 pm-1:30am

JIM BIANCHI

Jim Bianchi and Guest Artists will entertain the Festival crowds with beautiful renditions of Italian favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1:45-2:15 pm

PASTA EATING CONTEST

sponsored by
MONA LISA ITALIAN FOODS

Don't miss the exciting and fun pasta eating contest. Have your cameras ready to watch the contestants down their pasta in record time! Contact Jerry Balestreri to sign up for the contest. First come, first served.

 

2:30-3:30 pm

THE VERSATILES

Angie & Gabe return to the Sicilian Festival this year to take you back in time to re-live all the great tunes in the Italian American repertoire.


 

 

3:45-4:10 pm

ELLIOTT WULFF

16-year-old Elliott Wulff comes to the Sicilian Festival stage to present three vocal selections from his repertoire. Elliott performs regularly as an opera singer around the area and was a winning contestant at the Nazarene University vocal competition held recently in Pt. Loma.

 

 

4:15-6:00 pm

Open Mike Featuring the Talents of Little Italy
Hosted by Jerry Balestreri

Dance to the music of a wide variety of fabulous entertainers who will knock your socks off during this fun and exciting musical jam!

 

Roman Holiday's Strolling Performers & Street Musicians



Roman Holiday's lively musicians will entertain the crowds as they stroll through the streets with their colorful costumes and lively Italian/Sicilian music.