Italian Day on the Drive in East Vancouver Draws Crowds for Food and Fun

Crowds thronged to East Vancouver on Sunday to celebrate Italian Day on the Drive, a vibrant street festival that transforms the city’s historic Little Italy into a massive celebration.

The annual event spans almost 20 blocks of Commercial Drive, stretching from Venables Street to Grandview Highway.

Amidst the festivities, Mario from the Calabrese Cultural Association expressed his excitement, particularly for the diverse food offerings available during the event.

“There’s tons of different vendors, we’ve got from sausage all the way to potato wedges all the way down the Drive,” Mario mentioned, encouraging others to join in the fun.

In addition to the culinary delights, Italian Day on the Drive featured live music, fashion shows, and engaging pasta-eating contests for attendees to enjoy.

The theme for this year’s celebration was “Storia,” which translates to history in Italian.

“This year’s theme is significant because history creates memories, generating emotional connections with the ability to transcend generations via storytelling, keeping traditions and important values alive while bridging the past with the present,” reads a statement on the festival’s website.

“We are drawn to history because its story is our story, where we can learn from the past to create a better future together.”