It's kind of a big weekend for Tampa Bay, between "Eras Tour" shows, gearing up for a Lightning playoff run, the Tampa Bay Blues Festival (okay, you get the picture). But we'd be remiss not to highlight one of Tampa's longstanding community events: Festa Italiana Tampa.

The Ybor City festival honors the area's Italian heritage with a weekend of bocce, vino, and Parmigiano galore — benefiting the Italian Club Building & Cultural Trust.

Stop by Centennial Park (1800 E. 8th Ave.) to watch or play a little bocce. | Photo by Nicole Abbett via Festa Italiana Tampa

This year's festival is booked for Saturday, April 15-Sunday, April 16. Here's a breakdown of the main events:

Head to Centennial Park on Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for a jaunty round of Bocce & Bellinis. This free (and family friendly) event takes place alongside the neighborhood's Saturday market and features frozen Bellinis and the Sponsor Bocce Invitational.
Eataly who? Stop by the Mercato Italiano at the Italian Club of Tampa on Saturday from 12-6 p.m. for the pasta bar serving Cacio & Pepe, Pasta alla Norma, and more, plus street food tastings, live cooking demonstrations, and our favorite, the sweets buffet. Bring a tote — and maybe a freezer bag — for your haul.
Finish out the weekend with Sunday's Winefest of Italy. The main event includes a massive wine tasting with more than 100 varieties, tasty eats from Cena's, Bavarro's, and Flor Fina, plus a silent auction for decadent local dining experiences.

Read more about the festival + book tickets online.

We recommend carpooling and taking the TECO Streetcar system if you can — the city will likely be pretty clogged Saturday night. Follow the festival on Instagram for updates + more info.