NEW CULTURAL EVENTS
Ballo Liscio
Social Dancing Nights
- Wednesdays, January 22 – April 30,
6:30 – 8:30pm
The Italian tradition of Ballo Liscio continues at
Villa Charities. Bring friends, partners, or come on your own and enjoy these fun social dancing nights featuring music by popular Italian DJs & musicians.
Performer Schedule:
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
(Donations welcome at the door.)
Limited seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with the Italian Canadian Benevolent Seniors Apartment Corporation (ICBSAC).
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Celebrate Spring
Columbus Concert Band
- Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 – 9:00pm
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a live performance by the Columbus Concert Band! Under the direction of Annamaria Mazzaferro, this award-winning ensemble will present a lively program of popular concert band classics that’s sure to entertain. We’re also thrilled to welcome back special guest soprano Kira Braun, performing selections by Gershwin and the hit Broadway musical “Evita”. Experience a delightful and uplifting musical evening perfect for all ages, sure to brighten your spring!
Price:
$15.00 (Adults) / $10.00 (Seniors/Students)
Tickets also available at the door.
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Columbus Concert Band.
Wine Tasting Event
- Wednesday, April 16, 5:30 – 6:30pm
Our new wine is ready for tasting!
Coinciding with our popular Ballo Liscio event, join us for the debut tasting of the wine made from our traditional wine pressing demonstration last autumn. Celebrate Easter and sample this special vintage, while enjoying live music from Armonia Music and complimentary cake, courtesy of Villa Charities!*
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
*First-come, first served, while supplies last.
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Taste of Italy
Dinner Series
- April 25 – May 30, 6:00pm
A gastronomic journey through the peninsula!
Join us for our Taste of Italy series and savour the regional flavours of the Italian peninsula. Indulge in delicious and authentic Italian dishes prepared by Boccaccio Ristorante Executive Chef, Luciano Schipano.
Price:
$90.00 per person, for each dinner.
Ticket includes 4-course dinner, with mineral/sparkling water.
Location:
Ristorante Boccaccio,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Boccaccio Ristorante Italiano.
$10.00 from each ticket will be donated to the Villa Charities Arts, Youth and Culture Department.
Pasta Making Classes: Taste of Italy
with Chef Luciano
- Tuesdays, April 29, May 6, 20, June 3, 10, 17, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Experience Italy through hands-on pasta-making sessions, guided by Chef Luciano Schipano and his team of Chefs. With a focus on regional Italian cuisine, Chef Schipano will take you through the art of making fresh pasta by hand, exploring traditional dishes from different regions of Italy. Each session focuses on an easy-to-replicate pasta dish, offering a taste of authentic Italian flavours and culinary techniques.
Each session includes a tasting of a traditional dish featuring the handmade, take-home pasta you’ve made, and a printed sauce recipe.
Price:
$60.00 (per session)
8-Session Full Program Bundle: $420.00
(Save $60.00)
Location:
Columbus Room,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Chef Luciano Schipano.
“Transmission and Transformation”
Documentary Film
- Thursday, May 1, 5:30 – 6:30pm
Musicologist Roberta De Piccoli’s documentary, “Transmission and Transformation: An Ethno-Musicological Study of the Italian Canadian Community of Toronto”, delves into the intricate musical identity of Toronto’s large Italian Canadian community, examining the impact of migration, colonialism, and diaspora awareness. Through interviews with individuals from various migration waves, the film explores how music has functioned both as a tool for integrating into Canadian society and as a means of preserving connections to Italy. It grapples with the complexities of unifying diverse regional Italian identities, questioning the role of nostalgia and “authentic” cultural expressions in shaping contemporary musical identity. This research-driven film, conducted in collaboration with ICAMus, seeks to understand how these musical elements are perceived and experienced within the fluid context of modern cultural life in Toronto.
Join us for this documentary screening followed by a Q&A.
You can read more about this project here.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Columbus Room,
Columbus Centre
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025
Opening Show: Molise My Home
- Friday, May 2, 7:30 – 10:00pm
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025 opens with an exceptional evening of music and poetry!
Dive into a world of music, poetry, culture, and community as we celebrate the rich heritage of Molise in this unique event. Italian singer/songwriter Lino Rufo will take us on a musical journey to rediscover the poetry of celebrated Molison diaspora author Giose Rimanelli on his centenary. He will be joined on stage by a star-studded line-up of Toronto Molisano talent: award-winning author Nino Ricci, actor Dom Fiore, and singer and filmmaker Andrea Ramolo.
This event will kick off a weekend packed with rich literary programming as Librissimi 2025 rolls out on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at the Columbus Centre.
For complete programming details, visit librissimi.ca.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival.
Sponsored by IC Savings, Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre, ComItEs, Molisana Imports, AAST Molise, Avvografo and Artemusa.
Casa (Home)
La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi
- Tuesday, May 27, 12:45 – 1:45pm
Based in Bologna and considered one of the pioneers of theatre for very young audiences, La Baracca has been producing and programming shows for young audiences for over 45 years. Now, their unique theatrical experience “Casa” will make its Columbus Centre debut as part of Toronto’s WeeFestival this May.
Two characters meet and begin to get to know each other as they build a home. Building turns into play, and little by little, while playing, they build a story, a structure, a roof, a house. The rituals of daily life, of family roles, of childhood memories shift and change through play revealing new meanings and connections.
Through simple gestures, images, and accessible language, “Casa” offers an open-ended invitation for young audiences observing to bring their own imaginations and stories to the moment.
This whimsical theatre performance is suitable for children ages 1 – 4. Performed in Italian with minimal dialogue.
Price:
A ‘PAY WHAT YOU CAN’ EVENT
(Donations welcome at the door.)
Location:
Leonardo Da Vinci Academy Gym,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto and Leonardo Da Vinci Academy.
Part of 2025 WeeFestival of Arts and Culture for Early Years.
Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025
An Evening of Music and Poetry in Dialect
- Friday, May 2, 7:00 – 10:00pm
The Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival 2025 opens with a special one-night performance celebrating the centenary of Italian writer Giose Rimanelli.
This event features Rimanelli’s poetry set to music and performed by Italian singer and bluesman Lino Rufo, with a special appearance by award-winning author Nino Ricci and a spoken word performance by acclaimed actor Dom Fiore. This evening will be hosted by Pal Di Iulio.
Join us for Librissimi and celebrate Italian Canadian writing and culture in all its forms, languages, and dialects.
Price:
FREE
Location:
Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery,
Columbus Centre
Presented in partnership with Librissimi – Toronto Italian Book Festival.
Sponsored by AAST Molise, Artemusa, Avvografo, ComItEs, IC Savings, Italian Consulate General, Molisana Imports, and Montecassino Hotel and Event Centre.