Monterey's annual celebration of Italian and Sicilian fishing heritage returns Friday, Sept. 11, with three days of free music, food and dancing at Custom House Plaza.

The 93rd annual Festa Italia, also known as the Santa Rosalia Fisherman's Festival, runs Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13, at Monterey State Historic Park, 20 Custom House Plaza, adjacent to Old Fisherman's Wharf. Admission is free. The Festa Italia Foundation, a nonprofit volunteer organization, produces the event.

The festival traces its roots to 1933, when Sicilian fishermen donated a statue of Santa Rosalia to San Carlos Cathedral in gratitude for safe voyages and abundant harvests. Four women are credited with helping establish the celebration: Francesca (Ferranti) Giamona, Giovanna Balbo, Rosa Ferrante and Domenica Enea, according to a Canning Properties history of the event.

That statue still anchors the weekend. At noon Saturday, Sept. 12, a Blessing of the Fleet procession will carry it from Custom House Plaza down Old Fisherman's Wharf to the finger pier. The names of Italian-Sicilian fishermen who perished at sea will be read aloud, according to the festival's press release.

David Marzetti, host on KMBY 106.7 FM/1240 AM, returns for his 33rd consecutive year as master of ceremonies. Headliners include Naples-born tenor Pasquale Esposito, Monterey native Mike Marotta Jr. on accordion and piano, and The Anthony Lane Band. The Money Band plays Saturday only. Two acts are new this year: the Lost and Found Band on Friday evening and the duo of Jimmy Rossi and Luca DePaolis.

Free Tarantella dance lessons led by master instructor Phyllis Grillo run Sunday, Sept. 13, from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in front of the main stage. Chef Tene Shake, a Monterey Peninsula native named Chef of the Year in 2014, will lead a calamari cooking demonstration.

Kids get new activities this year, including a coloring contest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with prizes. A Euro Bungee trampoline and a 19-foot inflatable slide are set up on Upper Custom House Plaza at low cost.

The food lineup includes calamari, steak and sausage sandwiches, pasta, pizza, arancini, cannoli, eggplant Parmesan sandwiches and Italian ice in lemon, watermelon and strawberry. Wine, beer, sodas and water round out the menu.

A bocce tournament runs Saturday and Sunday at the plaza's bocce courts. Teams are accepted first-come, first-served. An entrance fee per team includes lunch.

The festival won first place for Best 2025 Community Event in the Monterey Herald's Readers' Choice Awards, according to the foundation's press release.

Festival hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit FestaItaliaMonterey.org or call 831-633-4444.