La Festa – Food & Wine

Entertainers

The Italian MCs

Marco and Simone are the duo behind The Italian MCs, bringing modern Italian flair, humour, and community spirit to events, radio, and festivals across Australia.
Marco, from Milan, relocated to Adelaide in 2012 and has been deeply involved in the Italian community of South Australia ever since. A proud Italian and lifelong Milanista, he joined Radio Italiana 531 as a volunteer in 2018 and is now its General Manager.
Simone, originally from Modena — the iconic city of Ferrari — moved to Melbourne in 2008 and has since blended his Italian heritage with Australia’s multicultural energy. By day, he works as a Change Manager, driving transformation and adaptability; by passion, he is a communicator and entertainer, actively involved with Radio Italiana 531.
Together, as The Italian MCs, Marco and Simone create engaging, bilingual experiences that celebrate Italian culture, connect communities, and bring energy, warmth, and authenticity to every stage.

Siesta Cartel

Siesta Cartel are a unifying musical movement led by a group of young Italians from Melbourne whose hearts beat to the music they play from a time long ago, where their beloved traditions was born. On a mission to unite all Italians in Australia with the music that helped raise them and they still love today.

“The sound of that music reminds me of my heritage. That sound today is Siesta Cartel”

Viva la Diva

The Viva la Diva is a dynamic trio featuring three of Sydney’s premier professional female vocalists: Sara Mazell, Jacinta Gulisano, and Juliette Rose.
United by their Italian heritage and embracing their rich culture, these talented women deliver a captivating musical presentation celebrating the best and most popular Italian female singers of all time. From iconic classics by the legendary Ricchi e Poveri, Marcella Bella & Mina to anthems by Annalisa and Giorgia, Viva La Diva’s performance appeals to all lovers of Italian music.
All 3 women successful in their own right, collectively will present an Italian musical project like no other. Experience next-level exceptional entertainment with Viva La Diva!

The Italian Stallions

The Italian Stallions are thrilled to be returning to the Cairns Italian Festival in 2026. One of Australia’s premier and most popular Italian bands, this dynamic eight-piece ensemble brings together some of the country’s most accomplished musicians and vocalists.

Renowned for their high-energy performances, The Italian Stallions pride themselves on delivering a carefully curated mix of classic favourites and contemporary Italian hits that appeal to audiences of all ages.

Fronting the band are Dean Canan, Tony Mazell, and George Vumbaca, whose charismatic performances help make every show a memorable celebration of Italian music and culture.

Expect to hear the songs you know and love from Artists that include Toto Cutugno, Umberto Tozzi, Eros Ramazotti and Il Divo to name a few.

Youssef Ben Touati

Youssef is an Italian culinary professional with a deep connection to food and tradition. He believes that every dish has a story behind it and that understanding the history and culture of a recipe is just as important as knowing how to cook it. Teaching the meaning, origins and traditions of Italian cuisine has always been a central part of his journey.

Born in Perugia to a pastry-chef mother and a baker father, Youssef grew up surrounded by flour, discipline and long working days. His family owned one of the most well-known bakeries of the time, Pasticceria Kennedy, located in Madonna Alta, Perugia. Hard work, consistency and sacrifice were the norm from a very young age. Over the years, Youssef worked with different family members in various roles, gaining a true 360-degree understanding of the hospitality industry. He worked across kitchens, service and operations, building real-life experience of how restaurants and food businesses actually function. This path gave him a solid foundation and a practical mindset that still guides everything he does today.

One of the main reasons Youssef started travelling was to bring true Italian food culture overseas including he’s freestyle pizza skills. He travelled extensively across Europe with Danilo Pagano and the Italian Ministry of Tourism and Agriculture. His goal was not just to cook, but to educate people and show them what real pizza or carbonara should truly taste and look like. Through training sessions, demonstrations and events, he has helped share authentic Italian knowledge in a way that is easy to understand and apply.

Today, after many years in hospitality, Youssef uses his experience to sell Italian food wholesale, supply Italian restaurant equipment and consult businesses. Alongside this, he performs pizza acrobatics all over Australia, combining skill, energy, and entertainment to showcase pizza in a fun and engaging way. Whether he’s consulting, teaching or spinning dough in front of a crowd, his mission remains the same: to share Italian culture honestly and keep the passion for food alive.

DJ Stefano Marcianò

A resident DJ at Italian bars and clubs nights around Melbourne, headline DJ for the Melbourne Italian Festa and playing guest spots across Italy, he has continued to develop his sound by hitting the studio to remix and re-imagine hits of the Italian stalwarts of the 60s-90s. He’ll have you dancing to songs you didn’t know you know and spark a nostalgia for a time you probably didn’t live through.

CARO Voices, Cairns and Regional Opera

Owned & operated by Adrian Strooper & Frank Dangelico, we are a local company giving the Cairns region, access to unique concerts by Australian classical and Avante-garde artists. We are committed to instilling a sense of pride in financially supporting Australia’s artists.

CARO voices is also about educating and supporting our local young and semi-professional artists by learning via masterclasses, workshops and pre-show talks. Our aim is to give the immense talent of the Cairns region access to the same exposure and opportunities as our southern students.

Founded in 2022 by Adrian Strooper and Frank Dangelico, CARO has been a much loved regular at The Cairns Italian Festival and we’re super excited to have them back again this year.

Opera Singers for La Festa:

• Adrian Strooper
• Chris Burcin
• Rachel Fullston
• Suzan Harvey
• Accompanied by Ashley Cawse

Romano Brothers

Adding a distinctive sound to the Cairns Italian Festival, Romano Bros. bring the vibrant spirit of Sicily to life through music. Born from a creative partnership between brothers Angelo and Marco Romano, this Sicilian pop‑rock band blends influences from pop, rock, funk, jazz, Latin rhythms and Mediterranean sounds to create a lively and memorable performance.

Since forming in 1999, Romano Bros. have built a strong reputation through their dynamic live shows and original music, producing songs that reflect their heritage and musical journey — from early performances across Sicily to national recognition and recording projects that capture their eclectic style and rich cultural roots.

Their music honors Sicilian tradition with contemporary energy, making them a perfect fit for our festival stage. Expect an engaging mix of rhythms, passionate vocals, and the infectious joy of Italian music that will have the crowd moving and celebrating together.

The Spaghetti Eating Competition is back!

When it comes to pasta, Italy is unrivalled beyond doubt. As the world’s biggest producers and consumers – approximately twenty-five kilos per person every year, unexpectedly followed by Tunisians – Italians are probably the only people happy to eat pasta more than once every day!

And you? How much pasta can you handle?

During the competition, each participant will get a large bowl containing 240 grams of cooked spaghetti. Players must eat the spaghetti without cutlery and with their hands behind their backs. The first person to finish all their spaghetti is the winner!

There will be 2 rounds for each category, with 10 participants per heat.

Competition Categories:
Senior category – open to any one aged 16 years and over.
Junior category – open to any one from 12 up to 15 years old.

You can enter on the day of the event. Be sure to line up at the stage by 2:45 PM to sign up. The competition will start at 3:30PM.

First prize for each category is $200!

Turning Pointe

Turning Pointe Dance Studios is synonymous with entertainment and are thrilled to be performing at the 2023 Cairns Italian Festival. Enriching the Cairns region for over 25 years, the highly acclaimed local dance troupe has received accolades both interstate and internationally. Dancers will provide a spectacular showcase of dance entertainment throughout the festival ranging from Traditional Italian Dance to much loved Italian Classics, to Current Chart Toppers! In a kaleidoscope of colour, don’t miss this entertainment for the whole family to enjoy!

The Mammas

Everyone loves the Italian Mammas! These fiery, pasta-loving queens of comedy bring a touch of Mediterranean flair everywhere they go. From hilarious anecdotes about their mischievous bambinos to side-splitting stories of life in the Old Country, these vivacious women regale audiences with tales of family, food, and amore. But don’t let their warm hugs and homemade cannoli fool you – these matriarchs mean business when it comes to comedy. With their sharp tongues and quick wit, our Italian Mammas can slice through a punchline faster than Nonna can roll a single gnocchi.