White event tents line a walkway next to a bocce court, with people gathered. City skyline and yellow bridge appear in the background.

15th Annual Bocce Tournament & Festival

Event Information

Date & Time
Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location Acrisure Stadium, Gate A, South Plaza 100 Art Rooney Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Categories

Bocce is back! Are you ready to roll?

SPONSOR NOW

The 15th Annual Bocce Tournament & Festival will return to Acrisure Stadium, Gate A, South Plaza on Saturday, Aug. 8. Support the History Center’s Italian American Program and sponsor a team of four in the double-elimination tournament!

The annual event is free and open for the public to stop by to cheer on the players, observe the games, and enjoy entertainment all day long. Delicious Italian Fare by Common Plea Catering will also be available for purchase. *Sponsorship is required to compete as a team. 

Parking is complimentary in Lot Gold 1A (Art Rooney Ave. entrance) – vehicles must be in the lot before 2pm to avoid paying for event parking. Due to the Pittsburgh Pirates game, street parking will be available until 3:40pm. After that time, vehicles parked on the surrounding streets will be subject to ticketing and towing.

Schedule of Events

10:00 a.m.
Registration Opens

10:45 a.m.
Welcome & Rules of Play Review
Bocce Court Blessing

11:00 a.m.
Tournament Begins
Common Plea Concessions Open
Performance by: The New Pure Gold

1:00 p.m.
Performance by: Norside

3:00 p.m.
Performance by: The Aces w/ Special Guest Shari Richards

5:30 p.m.
Winning Team Trophy & Prize Presentation

6:00 p.m.
End of Event

Founded in 1990, the Italian American Program is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Italian Americans in Western Pennsylvania. The Italian American collection at the History Center is one of the largest in the country and home to artifacts and archival materials that document the pivotal role Italian Americans play in shaping our region.

For more information, please contact Briana Hornung, special events manager, at [email protected].

Photo Gallery

People gather at outdoor tables near “Gate A” on a sunny day, with some playing bocce. In the background, green hills and buildings rise beneath a blue sky with scattered clouds and visible jet trails.
A group of people playing bocce on an outdoor city court, with red brick buildings and a Heinz sign in the background; spectators standing or sitting along the sides watching the game on a sunny day.
Two young women in blue shirts crouch and smile while playing bocce on a grassy area. In the background, people are sitting on benches and chairs watching a live band perform on an outdoor stage at a busy community event.
A man crouches next to a small child holding a bocce ball, guiding him on how to play on an outdoor bocce court. Several other people and colorful flags are visible in the background.
A group of eight people stand closely together, smiling at the camera beneath an archway made of red, white, and green balloons. Large gold balloon letters are displayed above them, and a bocce sponsorship banner hangs in the background at an outdoor event.
A band performs on an outdoor stage in front of an audience seated at tables, with bocce courts situated nearby. Brick buildings and a large Heinz sign are visible in the background, creating a lively city atmosphere at the event.
Two older men wearing matching maroon shirts stand outside; one holds several bocce balls while both gesture as they talk. Behind them, green pennant banners are strung along a wooden railing.
A woman wearing a gray shirt and white shorts is rolling a green bocce ball on an outdoor court. Several men in blue shirts stand nearby, observing the game. Additional people are visible in the background, with trees and grass surrounding the court.
Two men wearing purple shirts and shorts high-five each other in an outdoor area, possibly after a bocce game. A woman in a green shirt and sunglasses stands nearby, while several other people are visible in the background near a wooden fence.
A gold trophy with ornate handles and a dark bocce ball on top is displayed outdoors. The plaque reads: Italian American Program Bocce Tournament Champions, Senator John Heinz History Center. Trees and a partly cloudy sky are visible in the background.
Four people wearing sunglasses and white shirts stand together outdoors, smiling at the camera on a sunny day after a game of bocce, with trees and a cityscape in the background.
Four men in matching blue shirts and hats stand outdoors, each holding a bocce trophy. They are posing for a photo in front of a table with a larger trophy on it, with green trees and a white tent visible in the background.
A woman in athletic wear crouches and rolls a bocce ball on an outdoor bocce court, while a man stands behind her watching. Tents and multi-story city buildings are visible in the background.
A young boy in a blue shirt rolls a bocce ball on a sandy court. Several bocce balls are scattered on the ground, and other people stand in the background watching on a sunny day.
Overhead view of a woman wearing a green shirt playing bocce on a rectangular bocce court, with several people standing and watching from behind the wooden barrier and around the court.
A man in shorts and a blue shirt bends down to roll a bocce ball on an indoor court. Several people stand nearby, watching the game. Large windows behind them reveal a city skyline under clear, sunny skies.
A band performs on an outdoor stage. A female singer in a black dress stands at the front, smiling and waving. Two male vocalists stand beside her. A guitarist and drummer are visible in the background. Stage equipment, speakers, and several bocce balls are positioned in front of the stage.
A man in a navy shirt and shorts stands on a bocce court holding a green bocce ball behind his back. Several people watch and play bocce under white tents nearby, with sunlight casting shadows on the court.
A group of people play bocce in an outdoor urban area bordered by brick buildings. A man in a blue shirt is rolling a bocce ball while others sit and stand nearby, watching the game under sunny weather. Some spectators are seated along the edge of the playing court.

Team Sponsors