Columbia Italian Festival rescheduled to October 17

The Columbia Italian Festival has been postponed from its original date of October 10 to Saturday, October 17, due to unfavorable weather forecasts. The event will still be held at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Organizers stated that the decision to move to the established rain date was made to ensure the safety and experience of guests, vendors, and volunteers. The festival, which returns to Columbia after more than a decade, will offer free admission and feature Italian cuisine, local vendors, Ferrari displays, and cultural activities such as bocce and live art demonstrations.

Entertainment will include Italian sword fighting, Palmetto Opera, and ColaJazz performances. A ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on the park’s main stage, featuring remarks from festival organizer Tripp Roche, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, and Richland County Council Vice Chairman Derek Pugh.