There is something quietly remarkable about LisAmore!
Every year, thousands of people make their way to a corner of the Northern Rivers and, for a few hours, swap the everyday for something altogether warmer – the aromas of fresh pasta and cannoli in the air, the sound of an accordion drifting across the grounds, children twirling spaghetti with the kind of concentration usually reserved for far more serious pursuits.
This year, LisAmore! returns bigger than ever, with a new home at the Lismore Showgrounds giving the festival the space it has long deserved – the grounds will come alive with live opera, Domenico and the Latin Mafia, a tug-of-war, the beloved Spaghetti Competition for kids, and a food offering that stretches from wood-fired pizza and slow-roast porchetta to tiramisu, gelato and prosecco.
At its heart, LisAmore! has always been about more than Italian food and music. It is a celebration of the migrants who helped build this region – and an open invitation for everyone, Italian or otherwise, to share in that story.
LisAmore! 2026 is on Sunday at the Lismore Showgrounds from 10am to 3pm. $5 entry.
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