Downtown Syracuse will be filled with food, music, and fun to celebrate Italian heritage in Central New York this weekend. Festa Italiana will take place Friday through Sunday in Columbus Circle downtown.

Of course you can find 20 vendors offering up mouth watering food options like the meatballs, pizze fritte, along with various pasta selections and desserts. You'll also have unique events and competitions happening through the weekend.

There will also be about 20 bands performing on two stages. On top of that you'll find the ever popular charity meatball eating contest Friday along with the annual Bocce Tournament Saturday.

Organizers said they'd also like people to head into the Atrium Building at the Commons downtown for a Heritage Display for seminars and discussions.

"Gasparini Sales is going to present Italian meats, complimentary cheeses. Syracuse Opera will perform Italian Arias. Speach Candy is going to be here. Their business is now over one hundred years old. He's going to speak. But, also, I have demonstrations," said Festa Italiana Board Member John Cerrone.  

You can find raffles and street performers throughout the weekend aside from all the entertainment on the two stages. You can learn things like making a recipe like Limoncello or ricotta gnocchi which is really unique pasta.

Festa Italiana will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and then on Sunday from noon until 7:00 p.m.

There will also be an outdoor Italian mass taking place in Columbus Circle at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.