Bigger bite of Italy

Hamiltonians don't have to get on a plane to experience Italy this March as the Hamilton Italian Festival comes to life in the Hamilton Gardens.

Event organiser Vicki Ravlich-Horan said the festival is in its second year and is already growing.

This year will include a lecture series with Italian wine tasting, travel and tours in Italy and even Italian language 101, as well as cooking demonstrations.

A stage on Turtle Lake will provide entertainment, from local singer Katie Trigg to folk dancing.

Kids can be entertained with activities from pizza making to soccer shoot-outs and story telling corner. For petrol heads there is the car show with a variety of Italian cars on display.

"We are hoping to get a Lamborghini or Ferrari ... I guess that's many people's dream car," said Vicki.

"This year in addition to the extra events and activities and more stallholders, we have extended the hours from 11am-7pm with the hope that some people will come down in the early evening to enjoy dinner. We are planning an Italian dinner at the end of the festival, tickets are going to be about $40 a head.

"We've got together with a whole lot of our vendors who have amazing authentic Italian food. They've created a three-course meal, starting with antipasto, beautiful cheeses and olives and cured meat, big bowls of pasta and salads, and locally made gelato and strudel."

The festival is a free community event and organisers are keen for community and not-for-profit groups to be involved.

"We have some great ideas for stalls groups could run as fundraisers."

Vicki said the festival was started in association with the Italian community in the Waikato who wanted to increase local awareness of their group.

"They have regular potluck lunches and all sorts of things. You don't have to be Italian to join them, you could have spent a few years in Italy, you could be thinking of going to Italy and want to improve your language skills."

The festival is on March 9.

Any community groups and Italian-style entertainers wanting to be involved should contact Vicki at vicki@feast.net.nz or on 021 065 1537.