Por Cristóbal Gómez
San Diego is revered for its beautiful weather all year round, but springtime is particularly beautiful. It’s the best weather to enjoy San Diego’s Little Italy with all its outdoor public spaces and flower-lined streets. From blooming jacarandas to the curated flower displays on the street corners, Little Italy is the perfect complement to San Diego’s natural beauty. Before you are whisked away by the blooms, we want to make sure you have some important dates.
Join us for the Little Italy Wednesday Market from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday. The Little Italy Wednesday Market offers farm fresh produce, pastured eggs, poultry, meat, fish, bread, sauces, dog food, hummus, olive oil and more, brought to the neighborhood by California farmers, fisherman and artisan foodmakers. Like the treasured Little Italy Mercato, the Little Italy Wednesday Market is located on West Date Street, and stretches three blocks from Kettner Boulevard to State Street. Shoppers enjoy live music during the market, adding to the authentic Italian ambience of the Piazza della Famiglia. The market serves the neighborhood’s thousands of residents, employees and visitors. It is also a mid-week market “where the chefs shop,” giving them plenty of time to shop for locally sourced ingredients for weekend menu specials.
Come stroll through the Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., where more than 200 tents line West Date Street from Kettner Boulevard to Front Street. Similar to the Wednesday Market, the farm fresh produce options are endless. Find food purveyors with sauces and relish, oysters, coffee beans, spices and more, and plants including orchids, fresh flowers, and bedding plants. Dine on crepes, paninis, green smoothies, lemonade and local chefs’ specialties best enjoyed with our live music. Visitors come from all over the world to indulge in our farmers market, whether it’s to get a taste of the just-caught sea urchin or to simply soak in the beautiful atmosphere. Mangia bene!
Mark your calendar on March 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., to honor the legendary singer Frankie Laine with a statue unveiling at Nonna Italian Comfort Food.
Gear up for San Diego’s favorite cycling event which kicks off under our iconic “Little Italy” sign, the 12th annual Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego on Sunday, April 5. North America’s longest-running Gran Fondo attracts cyclists of all levels from over 30 states and 20 countries worldwide. Choose from four different routes varying in distance starting with the Fun Fondo at 20 miles to the Gran Fondo at 98 miles. Riders will experience America’s Finest City and its surrounding mountains, beaches, deserts, and lakes. Secure your spot now by registering at sdgranfondo.com/register.
For art lovers, make sure to swing by Little Italy’s Paseo del arte de Mission Federal on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The largest and longest-running arts festival in Southern California will feature more than 350 local, national and international artists. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and purchase one-of-a-kind art directly from the creators as well as enjoy live music, dance performances, interactive art experiences, street food and family-friendly art projects at KidsWalk.
On Saturday, May 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Elementary, join in for Van-Go!, a free event showcasing the accomplishments and talents of San Diego county STEAM enthusiasts. Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet aims to promote the integration of the sciences and arts during the event that draws children, parents and businesses together for one fun day. Activities include a silly soap box race, fine arts exhibition, live music, visual and performing arts entertainment and a beer and wine garden.
The Piazza della Famiglia is alive and vibrant every weekend with live music and events. To stay connected with all Little Italy happenings, visit our events calendar on LittleItalySD.com and follow us on Instagram @LittleItalySD, Twitter @LittleItalySD y @LittleItalySD.
— Christopher Gomez ha sido gerente de distrito de Little Italy desde 2000. Contáctelo en [email protected]. To stay connected with Little Italy, check out what’s going on in the neighborhood by following on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For more information, visit LittleItalySD.com.
