The Italian Community Center was started in 1978 to “celebrate the heritage and culture of Wisconsin’s Italian American Community”.
For almost 50 years, the group has been providing cultural and educational programs, fundraising for local organizations, helping to support those within their community – including with language classes – and, celebrating the traditions of Italian culture.
One of the biggest celebrations of theirs takes place at Henry Maier Festival Park! Festa Italiana, presented by Annex Wealth Management, is a three-day festival embracing the Italian community and inviting those outside of it into the celebrations.
Milwaukee is known for its ethnic festivals, but did you know Festa Italian was the very first on the Summerfest grounds? Around the 1950s, Milwaukee was a hotspot for Italian immigrants, with the area that’s now the Third Ward often referred to as “Little Italy”.
These were tightknit neighborhoods where unofficial little festivals or parties celebrating their heritage were often held. Due to the urbanization and development of downtown in the 60s, these pockets of communities were often disbanded as families were forced to move.
In 1978, three Italian American organizations from around Milwaukee (Milwaukee Chapter of UNICO National, the Milwaukee Ladies of UNICO, and the Pompeii Men’s Club) banded together to create one, large festival to bring everyone back together again – and so Festa Italiana was born!