BRINGING together the best of the North East’s vibrant Italian culture, authentic food and entertainment, Myrtleford will once again host one of the longest-running and most anticipated regional Italian festivals, La Fiera, from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 May.

Over the past 17 years, La Fiera has grown from a small community celebration to an unmissable weekend where both locals and visitors can immerse themselves in traditional Italian food, wine, culture and sport.

Thousands of visitors head to Victoria’s famed High Country during the autumn months every year and La Fiera will continue to welcome them with the autumnal tradition of roasting chestnuts, which has long been a favourite for the kids, while adults will be sure to sample local Alpine Valley wineries, including Italian varietals such as Barbera, Teroldego, Sangiovese and Vermentino to name a few.

Kicking off the festival on Friday evening, comedian James Liotta will take the stage at the EMPAC Theatre for the first regional performance of his show 'Mamma’s Still Not Happy'.

Tickets for the show include canapes on arrival crafted by Masterchef semi-finalist Elise Pulbrook and made with stunning local produce.

La Festa, scheduled for the Saturday, is a ticketed event which includes a full schedule of food from our ‘circoli’ (clubs), as they present authentic food from their regions, Trentino, Vicenza and Trieste, as well as wine and live entertainment.

"We’re thrilled to be back for our 17th year as La Fiera continues to grow, bringing new regional offerings and our biggest entertainment program yet for La Festa," event organiser, John Reynold-Smith said.

"Entertainment is at the heart of any festival, especially an Italian one and we aim to have something for everyone.

"On the main stage we will have Siesta Cartel, Solo Antico, Top Shelf Duo, roaming artists and more.

"In Jubilee Park we will have the Children’s Hub with a full program, proudly sponsored by the Bright and Myrtleford Community Bank.”

The festival concludes on Sunday with Il Mercato, an Italian-themed edition of the Myrtleford Farmers’ Market, showcasing local producers with seasonal produce and artisan stalls, regional wines, food and Italian entertainment.

A cooking masterclass hosted by James Mele (The Meat Room) and Elise Pulbrook will also be on offer.

La Fiera also has so much more; starting Thursday, visitors can enjoy a range of events, including long lunches at wineries, Italian movie night, a spirited La Fiera Cup soccer match, the Old School Museum 'Migration Exhibit' and this year an inspiring Billy Doolan art exhibition.

"La Fiera wouldn’t be possible without the support of its sponsors; Bright and Myrtleford Community Bank, Bendigo Bank," Mr Reynold-Smith said.

"Their commitment to the local community helps bring this much-loved festival to life each year."

"La Fiera is dedicated to making the festival sustainable which remains one of our key focuses, encouraging recycling, composting and the use of compostable packaging by all stalls.

“After successfully introducing FOGO bins last year, we’re continuing to work with Myrtleford and District Landcare Group and the Myrtleford Community Garden to reduce our impact while delivering the best festival possible.”

For the full weekend program, additional details and ticket bookings to James Liotta's show and to Saturday's 'La Festa' event, visit the La Fiera website: https://lafiera.com.au/.