Events Around Town! October is Italian Heritage Month
October is Italian-American Heritage Month, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate Italian culture, food, history, film, theater, and la bella vita throughout Los Angeles and surrounding counties! Start planning your October.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: Festa Italiana at Maddalena Restaurant
🕢 6:00 PM
📍 Maddalena Restaurant at San Antonio Winery, Los Angeles – Start the weekend with an Italian celebration at historic San Antonio Winery. Enjoy Italian food, wine, and the atmosphere of one of LA’s longtime Italian-American institutions, Maddalena Restaurant.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
🕢 11:00 AM
Festa Italiana — San Pedro
📍 Downtown San Pedro / Little Italy – One of the biggest Italian-American celebrations in Southern California! Festa Italiana takes over 6th Street in Downtown San Pedro with Italian food, live entertainment, vendors, and community. The event is free and family-friendly, making it a perfect Italian Heritage Month outing.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
🕢 3:00 PM
Special Event at IAMLA – “Mangia! A Chefs Battle Family Theater”
📍 Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, Downtown LA – In this lively, interactive musical adventure, children and families are invited to join the chefs on a delicious journey through the history of Italian food in the United States. Through songs, storytelling, humor, and playful audience participation, the chefs explore how Italian immigrants brought their culinary traditions to America, and how those traditions evolved into dishes that have become beloved across the country. Children are not just spectators; they are part of the story! They will help the chefs solve playful challenges, discover surprising food traditions, sing along, and learn about the ingredients, recipes, and cultural traditions that traveled from Italy to America. Free and open to the public. Must reserve tickets in advance.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
🕢 7:30 PM
LA Galaxy Italian Heritage Night
📍 Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson – Calling all calcio fans! The LA Galaxy take on the Portland Timbers for Italian Heritage Night. Fans who purchase through the special promotion receive an Italian Heritage knit scarf while supplies last. Tickets are limited, and if there’s one thing we know about Italians… it’s that we show up for family, food, and football. So don’t wait until Nonna reminds you. Grab your tickets before they sell out!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
Newport Beach Film Festival Italian Spotlight
📍 Newport Beach – Head to Orange County for the 27th annual Newport Beach Film Festival, running October 15–22. Tickets go on sale September 15.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
🕡 6:30 PM
Colpi di Maschera — Mask Mayhem
📍 Buena Vista Branch Library, Burbank – Experience the colorful world of Commedia dell’Arte, the iconic Italian theatrical tradition of masks, physical comedy, improvisation, and unforgettable characters. Colpi di Maschera is presented in English and is a family-friendly celebration of Italian theater, with Shakespeare, cinema, and pop-culture references woven into the performance. Free and open to the public. Must reserve your seats in advance. Space is limited.
🇮🇹 MORE ITALIAN CULTURE THIS OCTOBER
Throughout the month, keep an eye on programming from the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, IAMLA, and Italian-American organizations throughout Southern California for additional film, language, art, food, and cultural events. And don’t forget: October isn’t just about events, it’s a chance to explore LA’s Italian-American history, visit historic neighborhoods, support Italian-owned businesses, eat some pasta, drink some vino, and celebrate the communities that helped shape Southern California.
