Pizzafest set to serve up slices of Vaughan family fun

yorkregion.com
June 27, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Pizza and beer are dietary staples for many university and college students, but for Remo Palladini they’re also the perfect combination for celebrating Vaughan’s 25th anniversary as a city.

The arrival of that municipal milestone inspired him to bring the two together and launch Vaughan Pizzafest, a three-day “family friendly” celebration on tap at the Woodbridge fairgrounds July 15 to 17.

“There’s no better place to do a pizza fest,” said the lifelong Woodbridge resident. “It’s a predominantly Italian community and it’s the city’s birthday so the idea was to just throw a big pizza party.”

“It’s a predominantly Italian community and it’s the city’s birthday so the idea was to just throw a big pizza party.”

Of course, the 10 plus pizzerias taking part - including Ricci’s Pizzeria, Za Pizzeria, Pie Woodfire Pizza Joint, and Slopes of Vesuvius, among others - – don’t serve cheap, greasy and bland slices students scarf down to fill their bellies.

Rather, they’ll be offering up artisan pies made with fresh and, in some cases, gourmet toppings.

Same goes for the brew.

We’re not talking about the watered-down swill poured in many pubs haunted by post-secondary students, but approximately 30 flavourful lagers, ales and stouts produced by roughly a dozen of Ontario’s small-batch, craft brewers such as Lake Wilcox Brewing, Beau’s All Natural Brewing, Highlander Brew Co. and Wild Card Brewing Company.

And there’s more than just pizza and beer to tantalize your taste buds.

Those who prefer their cheese and pepperoni wrapped in a blanket of fried dough will be able to enjoy panzerottis as well as strombolis, pizza rolls and other “pizza related items,” Palladini said. 

An assortment of beverage alternatives is also available for non-beer drinkers including mixed drinks, water and, of course, Brio.

Pizzafest also has an entertainment lineup brimming with local talent including singer/songwriters Carlo Coppola, Joee and Laura Cavacece, performing Friday night.

Saturday night, you’ll be able to catch performances by Stuck on Planet Earth, Glass Ampp, Spookey Ruben and headliner Fast Romantics.

There’s lots for the kids to enjoy as well including a chance to get up close with snakes, lizards and other reptiles courtesy of Reptilia; block building fun by Legoland and a midway complete with rides, carnival games and a train, Palladini noted.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Frank Corrado, a Woodbridge native, is coming out Sunday to meet fans and sign autographs.

Richmond Hill-based comedian Frank Spadone will be there too, serving as honourary chairman and emcee for the event.

A Pizzafest wouldn’t be complete without a pizza eating contest, so that’s going to be happening too, Palladini said.

“It’s basically, eat, drink and be merry - that’s our goal for the event,” he said. “We want people come in and sample as much food as possible and we want everyone to have a good time...We want to make sure the whole family can come out and not just stay for 20 minutes and. We want you to stay there for two hours and for the kids to go on some rides, have some fun, and eat some cotton candy or a Snow cone.”

“That’s what’s awesome about it - it’s for any age,” added Spadone.

Proceeds from the event will go, in part, to support the Vaughan Yeoman rugby club and another charitable organization still to be confirmed, Palladini said.

With Canada’s 150th birthday celebration happening next year, Palladini says organizers are cooking up plans for an even bigger Pizzafest with the intention of making it a main attraction on Vaughan’s summer event calendar.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Hours:

Friday, July 15 from 4 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 noon until 11 p.m.
Sunday, July 17 noon until 7 p.m.

Admission: $10.

Pizza tickets cost $12. Each ticket consists of six slices with vendors charging between one and 20 slices for the pizza and other food.

Pizza tickets also serve as tickets for the midway and other children’s activities.

Drink tickets cost $5 each. A full ticket gets you a 12oz beer while half a ticket gets you a 5oz sample.

For more information, visit www.vaughanpizzafest.com.