UPCOMING CULTURAL EVENTS at the italian center, carmichael
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THE EVENTS AT THE ITALIAN CENTER!
JOIN US FOR SOME ITALIAN HOSPITALITY!
At the Italian Cultural Society it is our mission to serve the cultural needs of our community by providing some of the best and most unique cultural and traditional events and activities in our region. Events which can not be found elsewhere, that enable us and our community to learn about Italian heritage and history while strengthening Italian unity and identity.
Several events are offered throughout the year at the Italian Center; our community is invited to attend and enjoy some Italian hospitality!
SCROLL DOWN TO PREVIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
The Italian Cultural Society Presents
A CHILDRENS HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
"LA FESTA DELLA BEFANA"
JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025
1:00 - 4:00 pm
at The Italian Center
Kids 16 & Under FREE
Adults $15
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO CELEBRATE THIS MAGICAL
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL!
1:00 pm > DOORS OPEN! COME EARLY
Enjoy free Children's Crafts and Befana Marketplace
1:30 pm > PERFORMANCE by THE BAMBINI DANCERS
2:00 pm > "DOLCI" SNACK TIME
2:30 pm > "THE LEGEND OF LA BEFANA" PUPPET SHOW
3:00 pm > LA BEFANA VISITS WITH HER BASKET OF GOLD COINS
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Enjoy free Children's Crafts and Befana Marketplace and Befana Photo Booth
On January 7th, the children of Italy go to bed hoping the kind old lady they call “La Befana” visits them like Santa Claus (Babbo Natale) and leaves presents for those who are good. The Epiphany Feast, or “La Befana,” is an important part of the Christmas celebrations in Italy. One of Italy’s oldest and most renowned legends, “La Befana,” is honored with special events throughout Italy on this holiday. Many cities organize festivals and parades to celebrate La Befana on January 6th, the Epiphany Feast. Sacramento and other cities across the U.S. celebrate the “Legend of La Befana” with children’s festivals, encouraging children in the Italian-American communities to celebrate this annual cultural event together.
LEARN MORE
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
"CABRINI"
FRIDAY NIGHT ITALIAN FILM SERIES
(Friday, January 17 at 7:30pm)
"POMPEII, THE DOOMED CITY"
FILM DOCUMENTARY
(Sunday, January 26 at 2:00pm)
"ITALY TRAVEL TALK & VIRTUAL TOUR"
WITH PATRIZIA CINQUINI CERRUTI
(Sunday February 2 at 1:30pm)
"LITTLE ITALY HISTORY
COMMITTEE MEETING"
JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST MEETING!
(Sunday, February 16 at 1:00pm)
"RISO AMARO (Bitter Rice)"
FRIDAY NIGHT ITALIAN FILM SERIES
(Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm)
"ITALIAN HERITAGE TALK"
LEARN ABOUT ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
(Sunday, March 2 at 1:30pm)
All events and films are presented at the Italian Center, 6821 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael 95608
Admission is $10 unless otherwise noted
Doors open 30 minutes early!
Refreshments Included
The Italian Cultural Society Presents
FRIDAY NIGHT ITALIAN FILM SERIES
"Italian Cinema is as much a part of Italian culture as the food, music and people."
"Cabrini"
Friday, January 17, 2025
7:30 pm
Admission $10
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
This important movie was a smash hit within the Italian American community. It is a powerful epic of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian nun sent to the United States by the Pope in 1899 to tend to the needs of the Italian immigrants of the turn of the 20th century. She was 49 years old.
Between 1889 and 1910 over 2 million Italian immigrants arrived in the United States. The largest immigrant group to come through Ellis Island as legal residents. During the heyday of Italian Immigration, Mother Cabrini stood out as a champion of the Italian American people.
This film portrays the plight of the early Italian communities and the hardships and living conditions of our Italian forebears, but it also portrays the spirit of the immigrants. It is one of the few films that provides a visual and realistic view of the era. A history often ignored.
In her 18 years in the United States, Mother Cabrini becomes a citizen and founds a religious order of 4,000 sisters worldwide, and nearly 70 orphanages, hospitals, churches, schools, libraries and charitable institutions across the United States in the Italian communities from Los Angeles and the mining communities of Colorado to New York, Chicago, and New Orleans. Mother Cabrini Day is a State Holiday in Colorado.
The film is uplifting as we see this frail immigrant nun overcome the many obstacles in her path which she faced from the Irish American catholic church hierarchy and a prejudiced American society as she builds an empire of hope.
As we follow her journey the film gives us a deeper understanding of the Italian American experience during a period of anti-Italian sentiment.
Her life can be summed up in the quote “the world is too small for what I intend to do.”
Mother Francesca Cabrini was the First American Saint. She is referred to as the Immigrant Saint for her work in the Italian immigrant communities.
Wonderful played by Italian actress Cristiana Dell’ Anna as Mother Cabrini and famous Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini as the Pope. (2024)
Refreshments included
Doors open at 7:00pm
CLICK HERE TO WATCH FILM TRAILER
CLICK TO READ
MOTHER CABRINI, THE IMMIGRANT SAINT
FILM DOCUMENTARY
"Pompeii,
The Doomed City"
Sunday, January 26, 2025
2:00 pm
Admission $10
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
This documentary looks at one of the world’s most devastating natural disasters and projects what could happen if Mt Vesuvius erupted again. Scientists have wondered how many of the three million residents near the volcano would fare from a major eruption.
In 79 AD, Vesuvius exploded burying the city of Pompeii and other Roman towns along the Bay of Naples beneath layers of ash and pumice, killing thousands. We will visit the Bay of Naples location, which is built on ancient volcanic rock, some of it still steaming. Our visit to Pompeii will reveal the truth behind its secrets with footage, interviews with scientists and public safety officials, along with stunning computer graphics to map out the realities of another eruption.
Pompeii was undiscovered for 1500 years. Recent archeological discoveries at the site have uncovered the secret of Roman concrete which remained lost since the Fall of the Roman Empire. In 1997, Pompeii became a World Heritage site.
Doors open at 7:00pm
SEE ITALY TRAVEL TOURS
"Italy Travel Talk and Virtual Tour"
WITH PATRIZIA CINQUINI CERRUTI,
ICS TRAVEL DIRECTOR
Sunday, February 2, 2025
1:30 pm
Admission FREE
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
2025 is a Jubilee year and Italy expects a record number of travelers.
Italy is always breathtaking but will be absolutely stunning in 2025 thanks to the 100s of public works and infrastructure projects taking place throughout in preparation for the Jubilee year. This will be one of the best times to see the fountains and monuments in all their glory. It will also be one of the busiest and most hectic times to travel to Italy.
Join the Italian Cultural Society’s Travel Director, Patrizia Cinquini Cerruti, for a free travel talk and a virtual tour of Italy’s most beautiful regions. Patrizia was born in Lucca, Italy where she currently lives and works part of the year. Patrizia has taught Italian for 35 years, she has published language and travel books and dozens of articles about Italy and Italian travel. Since 1986, she has escorted groups of every size to Italy. In 2005, she received the “Stella della Soliedarietà Italiana” (an award of knighthood) in recognition of her contributions to Italian culture.
Patrizia will showcase some of her up-coming tours and give travelers important information and tips for traveling to Italy. There will also be a question-and-answer session. Refreshments will be served. This event is Free and Open to the public.
Doors open at 7:00pm
LITTLE ITALY SACRAMENTO
"Little Italy History Committee Meeting"
JOIN OUR FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING
Sunday, February 16, 2025 1:30 pm
Admission FREE
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
Join us for our first Little Italy History Committee Meeting.
The Little Italy Historic District was officially recognized by the City of Sacramento in 2021. Since that time seven Historic Little Italy Medallion signs have been installed at key intersections to mark the boundaries of the zone.
Creation of the Historic District was a major advancement for the Italian American community of Sacramento. It is one of the newest little Italy districts to be recognized in the United States in recent decades.
Much more needs to be done by the Italian community and the city to make additional improvements to the area that reflect its Italian heritage.
There have been many suggestions for projects to enhance the Italian character of the 24-block district and surrounding area ranging from collecting the history of the people, places and businesses, to historic preservation, art murals and red, white and green cross walks.
Besides the addition of signage to mark the historic district, there have been other positive developments including the first Little Italy Bocce Tournament held in East Portal Park in the heart of the district, community action to save the Marble steps of St. Mary’s Italian Church from destruction, and the district being the subject of high school research papers by Italian American students.
This first Little Italy Committee organizing meeting is a good place to get started on setting our project goals for the area and organizing the Committee and volunteers.
The meeting is open to all and their suggestions.
The Italian Cultural Society Presents
FRIDAY NIGHT ITALIAN FILM SERIES
"Italian Cinema is as much a part of Italian culture as the food, music and people."
"Bitter Rice"
Friday, February 21, 2025
7:30 pm
Admission $10
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
This neorealist film stars Vittorio Gasman and Silvana Mangano, both international Italian film stars. It was shot on location in the Piedmont region of northern Italy and takes place during the planting season in Northern Italy’s Po Valley. Mangano plays an earthy rice-field worker who falls in love with Gasman, a petty thief who is planning a daring heist of the crop.
It is a socially conscious look at the hardships endured by underpaid seasonal women field workers from across Italy who journey to the area during the planting season. It is physically taxing work. The film was a smash hit and nominated for an academy award in 1950 for best story. Actress Silvana Mangano was a major female star of the 1950s and 60s, along with Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren. (1949, in Italian with English subtitles).
Refreshments included
Doors open at 1:30pm
LEARN ABOUT ITALIAN CITIZENSHIP
"Italian Heritage Talk"
WITH ATTORNEY ANTHONY ALIOTO
Sunday, March 2, 2025
1:30 pm
Admission $10
At the Italian Center:
6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael 95608
Learning About Italian Citizenship
Interested in learning about Italian Citizenship?
Not sure you qualify?
You’ve started the process but don’t know what to do next?
Join the Italian Cultural Society to learn more about if you are eligible for dual Italian citizenship, where to start with document collection and the process of navigating the rules.
Attend this special presentation by attorney Anthony Alioto to learn more about if you are eligible for dual Italian citizenship, where to start with document collection and the process of navigating the rules.
The presentation will cover Italian citizenship and claiming unclaimed property and banking in Italy.
The Italians were one of the largest groups of people to immigrate to America and are one of the largest ancestry groups in the nation, some 25 million. After generations of living in the United States, there is a growing interest in discovering our family roots and pursuing our cultural heritage both here and in Italy.
The result is a rising desire to obtain Italian citizenship. For some it is pride in being Italian that motivates us, for others it may be a matter of personal identity and quest for our Italian roots. Whatever the reason, attending our discussion about how to become an Italian citizen is an opportunity to learn more about the process.
Italian Americans have a deep interest in tracing their family histories and ancestral roots. Although removed by geography, they still identify closely with their Italian heritage. Many travel to Italy to gain a deeper understanding of their cultural identity, discover ancestral villages, and meet long lost relatives. The current interest in roots, tourism, roots and dual citizenship is about cultural connections.
And no place is better at connecting Italian Americans to their heritage than the Italian Cultural Society.
Refreshments included
Doors open at 1:00pm