The smell of garlic, basil, and simmering tomato sauce is about to take over Addis Ababa again. Pasta Fest 2025 is returning for its third edition this Saturday, November 1st, transforming the Millennium Compound into a daylong celebration of Italian food, music, and culture.

What began as a modest culinary gathering has quickly become one of the city’s most anticipated annual food events. This year’s festival is expected to draw between 5,000 and 7,000 people, making it the biggest edition yet.

From 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., visitors will get a chance to wander through a maze of aromas and flavors. More than 25 vendors including some of Addis’s best-known Italian restaurants, independent chefs, and up-and-coming food entrepreneurs will be serving everything from familiar comfort dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese and Fettuccine Carbonara to modern, creative pasta experiments.

The festival isn’t stopping at cooked plates. Guests can also browse stalls offering authentic Italian products from cold-pressed olive oils and aged cheeses to sauces and specialty dried pasta turning the event into a mini Italian market for anyone looking to restock their pantry with the good stuff.

Live cooking demonstrations will give festivalgoers a peek into the craft of pasta making kneading, rolling, and shaping dough the way it’s done in Italian kitchens. Throughout the day, DJs and live performers will keep the atmosphere lively, blending Ethiopian rhythms with Mediterranean flair.

Behind the laughter, clinking glasses, and endless plates of linguine, Pasta Fest has quietly become a cultural bridge connecting Addis Ababa’s diverse food scene with international culinary traditions. It’s also a showcase for local chefs and small businesses who use the platform to experiment and reach new audiences.

Organized by Culture Club, this year’s event feels less like a food fair and more like a snapshot of a city that’s hungry for creativity, collaboration, and really good pasta
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So if your weekend plans are still up in the air, follow the scent of garlic and fresh dough to Millennium Compound. You’ll probably leave with a full stomach, a few new recipes, and maybe a jar of imported pesto tucked under your arm.