First Lady Jill Biden helped kick off the 44th year of Festa Italiana at the Aurora Pavilion in Henry Maier Festival Park, marking the return of the festival to the Summerfest grounds after a hiatus since 2019 [2b556cbf]. Festa Italiana is a celebration of Italian-American culture and heritage. As the first Italian-American First Lady, Biden shared her personal memories of growing up in her Italian cultural heritage and visiting Ellis Island. She highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural traditions and expressed gratitude for the contributions of Italian Americans to the United States [2aa5858e] [2b556cbf].
During her opening remarks, pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted the event multiple times to voice their opposition to the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza. The First Lady addressed the protests and emphasized her husband's work on the American economy. Despite the disruptions, festival-goers were excited to see the First Lady speak and expressed confusion over the protests [2b556cbf].
Festa Italiana executive director Sandy Winard confirmed that the First Lady had reached out to speak at the festival and expressed excitement about her participation. The festival will continue through Sunday, providing attendees with the opportunity to enjoy Italian-American food, music, and cultural activities [2b556cbf].