Photos courtesy of Rob Paglia.
As the weather turns from crisp Autumn leaves to frosty winter chills, the Italian Winter Festival is set to return to Victoria Park Social Club for the June long weekend, bringing live entertainment and full carnival vibes to Rose Park. From June 4 to June 7, the Club will come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of Italy.
Beginning on Thursday with a pizza night to get the party started, the main Carnevale event takes place from Friday through to Sunday, with a live Italian band from 6-9pm each night.
Nibble on antipasto and revel in the vibrant atmosphere inside the warmth of a heated outdoor marquee and beside a crackling firepit, choosing from either a set menu or a selection of traditional regional Italian dishes, including decadent desserts and plenty of sourdough bread to soak up that sensational pasta sauce!
Indulge in some of the festival’s drink specials while you watch talented trio Mambo Italiano belt out some classics that will see you clapping your hands and tapping your feet to the beats, and rest assured, the kids are absolutely welcome, and have a separate menu with some items carefully selected for younger palates.
Director of La Dolce Vita Catering, Rob Paglia, says the family-friendly event – now in its third year – is gaining popularity each year, with an estimated count of up to 1,000 attendees across the four days and nights.
“We draw inspiration from the festivals we attended as kids in the 80s and 90s, so there is a bit of a retro vibe to it,” says Rob, who explains that while there are some new items on the menu this year, people mainly return for the consistency and quality of the event.
“They know it will be a great time with good food, great atmosphere and friendly faces,” he says of the festival’s faithful attendees. Normally a sell-out event, you’ll want to book in for this one as soon as possible. Buon appetito!
Italian Winter Festival 2026
When: Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June, from 3pm – late, & Saturday 6 June and Sunday 7 June, from 12pm – late.
Where: Victoria Park Social Club, at CNR Wakefield Street & Fullarton Road, Rose Park, SA 5067
For more information or to book seats, click here.
