The new Viva Italia in Canberra Festival kicked off in fine style with its “night under the stars” by Lake Burley Griffin on Friday.

A large crowd at The Jetty tucked into Italian street food and drink, later joining in a conga line to music by the appropriately-named Viva Italia Dance Band.

Festival director Lyndall Heddle led the proceedings of the evening, describing what was to come during the two-week event, including an Italian movie night featuring Roman Holiday on April 2 at Palace Electric, the Tour Del Vino to Mount Majura Vineyard and Shaw Estate on April 6, a gala dinner at The Realm on May 10 and a free Italian festival matching the Pompeii show at the National Museum of Australia on April 12.

Heddle, not Italian herself but having studied the language in Siena, where she fell for the country’s celebratory culture, explained her idea of an Italian event while thanking her hard-working team, proof apparent that the Italian community punches above its weight in the business life of Canberra.

Valentina Bagozzi, director of the Education and Culture Office at the Italian embassy, spoke of the festival’s purpose in revealing the Italian heart and soul to Australians before the crowd took to the dance floor to do the Macarena.

Viva Italia Festival, until April 13. All details here