Prelude to Sicily
May 14 & 15
free to the public

Union Square
a “piazza” in the heart of San Francisco’s elegant shopping, theater and hotel district

An outdoor festival, with live musical performances, art, products and cultural folklore, comprised of 4 parts:

Made in Sicily Booths displaying art, food, wine, ceramics and other typical products, identifying their Sicily region of origin.
Art with Flowers True to Sicilian tradition, petals of different kinds of flowers are used to create a variety of figures and mosaics. "Maestri" from Noto, Sicily conceive the designs and supervise production of the floral displays.
Music Popular opera and traditional Sicilian and Italian songs performed live on a main stage in the center of Union Square throughout the day. The headline act is a notable performer such as Sicilian singer Fiorello, or Italian singer Al Bano.
Gala Dinner The culminating dinner brings together the San Francisco Italian community in a nearby Union Square hotel to celebrate Sicilian culture in a black tie affair.

In San Francisco, the Sicily image is quietly evolving for the better. Italian restaurants are adding Sicilian wines to their menus, they are featuring all-Sicilian dinners and Sicily is becoming known for its many treasures. It is clear that Sicily’s moment of glory is in the not-too-distant future.

The National Sicilian American Foundation, with a national membership base of 500 Sicilians and a reputation for promoting Sicilian culture, wants to keep this positive momentum moving forward with this Sicilian event in the greatest European city in the United States – San Francisco.

The purpose of the event is to expose and promote Sicilian culture, dispelling many of the myths it is associated with, and replacing them with the realities of Sicilian history and modern life.

The event is organized by, and benefits, the National Sicilian American Foundation. The NSAF is an international non-profit membership organization, dedicated to educating the public about Sicilian culture, sharing the Sicilian heritage through cultural and social events, and creating a gathering place where one can find “Equality and Unity with Dignity”.

NSAF events have included concerts, photo exhibits, speaker presentations, and national and international exchanges, and have benefited senior citizens, and needy children and families. This event also benefits the Museo Italo Americano of San Francisco.