Carnarvon festival celebrates Italian culture and history

Carnarvon will be holding a weekend to honour its Italian heritage with the Celebration of Carnarvon’s Italian Heritage and Culture Festival, starting on September 30. Italian immigrants first arrived in Carnarvon almost a century ago and Italian families have played an important role in the region’s agriculture, especially the banana industry, according to the festival committee. The weekend will feature catered Italian lunches and dinners, live music and tours of landmarks and plantations established and run by Italian families, as well as talks with Italian migrants about their lives in Carnarvon. One of the event’s special guests will be Nicolo Costantini, the Perth Consul of Italy, marking the first time an Italian consul has visited Carnarvon since 1952. The event hopes to see a wide range of local residents, past and present Italian migrants and tourists come to experience Carnarvon’s rich Italian heritage. The festival will be held from September 30 to October 2. The festival committee said profits would go to charity. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or by calling Sue Bickley at 0417 831 962.