Events: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser Friday, September 25th

 

A North County Italian American Spaghetti Fundraiser in Carlsbad

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 — Friday, September 25, 2026

For visitors looking for a relaxed Italian American community evening in North County San Diego, the La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 Spaghetti Fundraiser offers a simple, welcoming local event built around food, fellowship, and heritage. Hosted by La Costa dei Fiori, the North County San Diego lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, the dinner features spaghetti with meatballs, salad, and bread for $20, with the option to eat in or carry out.

The event takes place Friday, September 25, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009. The lodge’s official website describes La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 as a North County organization that brings together Italian Americans, spouses, friends, and supporters to celebrate Italian culture and community.

About the Host Organization

La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424 is part of the larger Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, a national Italian American organization founded in 1905. OSDIA describes its mission as preserving Italian heritage, encouraging cultural connection, supporting charitable causes, and strengthening Italian American identity across generations.

The California Grand Lodge history identifies La Costa Dei Fiori Lodge No. 2424 as having been founded in Encinitas on October 22, 1978, making it a long-standing part of the Italian American community in North County San Diego.

Why Go

This is the kind of event that reflects the heart of Italian American community life: a plate of pasta, a local lodge, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a fundraiser that helps keep cultural organizations active. It is not a large street festival or tourist spectacle. It is a neighborhood-style dinner where visitors can experience Italian American fellowship in a more personal setting.

It also makes a good excuse to build a North County evening or weekend around Carlsbad, La Costa, Encinitas, the beach, shopping, and nearby family attractions.

Event Details

Event: Spaghetti with Meatballs, Salad & Bread Fundraiser
Host: La Costa dei Fiori Lodge #2424, Sons & Daughters of Italy
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: La Costa Valley Club, 2280 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Cost: $20
Dining: Eat in or carry out
Contact listed on flyer: sdilodge2424@gmail.com
Official lodge website: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

Before traveling, confirm directly with the lodge, since fundraiser details, payment methods, and meal pickup procedures can change.

Suggested Itinerary

Afternoon Arrival

Arrive in Carlsbad or La Costa by midafternoon. If you are coming from San Diego, Orange County, or Inland North County, give yourself extra time for Friday traffic. Check into your hotel, stop for coffee, or take a short walk around the area before dinner.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Dinner at the Fundraiser

The dinner begins at 4:00 PM, making it convenient for families, retirees, locals, and visitors who prefer an early meal. Arriving earlier may be helpful if you want to eat in, avoid the busiest pickup window, or spend more time meeting lodge members.

After Dinner: Easy North County Evening

After dinner, consider a short drive to Carlsbad Village for coffee, dessert, shopping, or a sunset walk near the coast. Carlsbad Village is one of the area’s most walkable districts, with dining, beach access, and free public parking lots in the Village area, though posted time limits may apply.

Where to Stay

For the closest upscale stay, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is the natural choice. The resort is located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad, close to the La Costa area, and offers golf, spa amenities, restaurants, pools, and a full resort experience. Omni lists the property as having 36 holes of golf, eight pools, and a full-service spa.

For a broader range of lodging, Visit Carlsbad maintains a hotel directory that includes beach hotels, luxury resorts, vacation rentals, and budget-friendly options.

Good lodging areas include:

La Costa / Aviara: Best for staying closest to the fundraiser, resort amenities, golf, spa experiences, and a quieter North County setting.

Carlsbad Village: Best for visitors who want restaurants, beach walks, shops, coffee, nightlife, and a more walkable coastal experience.

Near LEGOLAND / The Flower Fields area: Best for families turning the fundraiser into a weekend trip with children.

Carlsbad beach hotels: Best for visitors who want ocean views and a more vacation-like stay.

Where to Eat

Since the fundraiser itself is centered on spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread, you may not need a full restaurant meal the same evening. Still, Carlsbad has plenty of options if you want to make a full day of it.

Near La Costa, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa lists several on-site dining options, including Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Bar Traza, VUE, Marketplace, Spa Café, and other resort dining choices.

For shopping-center dining, The Shoppes at Carlsbad lists a variety of restaurants and eateries, while Visit Carlsbad notes full-service options there such as The Cheesecake Factory, Yard House, Texas de Brazil, and Beshock Ramen & Sake Bar.

For a more local coastal feel, head into Carlsbad Village, where the Village dining directory includes options ranging from casual meals to fine dining.

Other Attractions Nearby

Carlsbad Beaches

Carlsbad is known for its coastal setting and beach access. Visit Carlsbad describes the city as having seven miles of Pacific coastline, with beaches suited for walking, surfing, fishing, birdwatching, and relaxing.

The City of Carlsbad notes that many of the beaches are managed by California State Parks, with lifeguards, restrooms, picnic areas, and parking lots provided through the state park system.

Carlsbad Village

Carlsbad Village is a good add-on before or after the dinner. It offers restaurants, cafés, shops, coastal access, and a more traditional beach-town atmosphere.

LEGOLAND California Resort

Families can turn the fundraiser into a weekend trip by adding LEGOLAND California. Visit Carlsbad lists LEGOLAND California Resort and SEA LIFE Aquarium among the city’s major attractions.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

The Flower Fields are seasonal, so they will not be in peak spring bloom during late September, but the surrounding area remains a major Carlsbad visitor district with shopping, restaurants, and family attractions. Visit Carlsbad lists The Flower Fields among the city’s well-known attractions.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Even for visitors not staying overnight, the La Costa area is strongly associated with resort culture, golf, spa experiences, and relaxed North County leisure. Omni notes that the resort is near attractions including The Flower Fields, LEGOLAND, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo.

Transportation, Getting There, Getting Around, and Parking

The fundraiser location is in Carlsbad’s La Costa area, which is easiest to reach by car. Visitors coming from San Diego can take I-5 north or I-15 north to Highway 78 / local roads, depending on their starting point. From Orange County or Los Angeles, the most direct route is usually I-5 south.

For visitors planning to spend time in Carlsbad Village, the Village is accessible by car from Interstate 5 via Carlsbad Village Drive or from the coast along Carlsbad Boulevard. Carlsbad Village Association notes that on-street parking and public lots in the Village are free, though three-hour limits are enforced where posted.

For the fundraiser itself, check the lodge or venue for event-specific parking instructions. Since the event is at a community club location rather than a large festival site, arriving early is wise, especially during the dinner rush.

Weather and What to Pack

Late September is usually one of the more comfortable times of year in coastal North County. Visit Carlsbad lists September averages around 73°F for the high and 61°F for the low, with light average rainfall.

Pack:

A light jacket or sweater for the evening
Comfortable shoes
Casual dinner clothes
Sunglasses if arriving earlier in the day
Cash and card, in case payment options vary
A cooler bag if carrying out multiple dinners

Practical Tips

Confirm the event directly with the lodge before traveling, especially if you are coming from outside North County.

Arrive early if you want to eat in, socialize, or avoid the busiest pickup period.

Bring small bills, even if digital payment is available, since community fundraisers sometimes use multiple payment methods.

Make a full evening of it by pairing the dinner with Carlsbad Village, a beach walk, or dessert nearby.

For families, the 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM time window is convenient because it allows for an early dinner and an easy drive home.

Final Thought

The La Costa dei Fiori spaghetti fundraiser is more than a pasta dinner. It is a small but meaningful expression of Italian American community life in North County San Diego. Events like this keep local lodges visible, bring people together around the table, and preserve the warm, informal traditions that have always been central to Italian American culture: food, family, friendship, service, and a good plate of spaghetti.

Facebook page: (2) Sons & Daughters of Italy, North County San Diego | Facebook

 

Museum Spotlight: Museo Italo Americano’s Future Home: A New Cultural Landmark for Italian America in San Francisco

For nearly half a century, the Museo Italo Americano has served as one of California’s most important institutions dedicated to Italian and Italian American art, history, language, and culture. Founded in 1978 in a small room above Caffè Malvina in San Francisco’s North Beach, the Museo began with a mission that remains central today: to collect, preserve, display, and celebrate the work of Italian and Italian American artists while offering educational programs that deepen appreciation for Italian culture.

Now, the Museo is preparing for one of the most ambitious chapters in its history: the creation of a new permanent home at 940 Battery Street in San Francisco’s historic northeast waterfront area.

A New Home Rooted in Italian American History

The future Museo site is not just a new building. It is a return to a neighborhood deeply connected to San Francisco’s Italian American story.

According to the Museo, 940 Battery Street sits in the Barbary Coast / North Waterfront neighborhood, an area with a strong Italian American history and character. The surrounding district was once part of San Francisco’s commercial waterfront and warehouse economy dating back to the Gold Rush era. The Museo notes that the original “Italy Harbor,” where Ligurian fishermen once moored their feluccas in the late 19th century, was located near where the building stands today.

This makes the future home more than a real estate project. It is a symbolic homecoming.

The neighborhood’s Italian American legacy also included businesses such as the Italian Swiss Colony, Ciocca-Lombardy wine warehouses, and the Petri Italian American Cigar Company. In other words, the Museo’s new location places Italian American memory back into the very streets where immigrants, fishermen, merchants, artists, and families helped shape San Francisco.

The Eterna Capital Campaign

The Museo’s capital campaign is entering a new phase under the theme “Eterna”, a name that suggests endurance, legacy, and continuity. The campaign’s stated goal is to help create what the Museo describes as a leading cultural experience in the United States dedicated to the artistic, cultural, and social contributions of Italians and Italian Americans.

The campaign grew out of a major gift from the estate of Dr. Jerome Cocuzza, a longtime benefactor of the Museo. Following that gift, the Museo began planning a renovation of the 940 Battery Street building so it could become the institution’s future home.

With community support, the Museo hopes the new space will allow it to:

Showcase Italian and Italian American art and history

Expand educational, cultural, and language programs

Create a lasting cultural legacy for future generations

The project has the endorsement of the Italian Consulate of San Francisco, with Mark Cavagnero Associates serving as architect and Macchiatto designing the new history exhibit and interior spaces.

What the New Museo Will Include

The Museo’s future home is being planned as a broader cultural hub, not simply a gallery space. The new facility is expected to expand exhibitions, enhance cultural programming, and include a commercial-grade kitchen for cooking classes, events, and private rentals.

That detail matters. Italian culture is not preserved only through paintings, archives, or lectures. It lives through food, language, family stories, music, community gatherings, and the passing down of traditions. A kitchen inside a museum may seem like a practical feature, but for an Italian American cultural institution, it is also deeply symbolic.

It says that heritage belongs at the table as much as on the wall.

The Lower Level: An Immersive Journey into Italian American Heritage

One of the most exciting planned features is the lower level, which the Museo describes as the immersive heart of the new institution. This area will include a small theater for film presentations, a historical timeline tracing the Italian American journey in San Francisco, and an interactive exhibition organized chronologically and thematically.

A centerpiece of the lower level will be an interactive touch-surface table called “Sunday Dinner.” Visitors will be able to engage with stories through virtual “dishes,” each representing themes from the exhibit. The experience is designed to encourage visitors not only to learn, but to interact, remember, and share.

The lower level will also include a dedicated space where visitors can record their own family histories, which may become part of the Museo’s archival collection. This is especially powerful because Italian American history has often been preserved through oral memory: stories told by grandparents, photographs kept in drawers, recipes never written down, and memories of neighborhoods that have changed or disappeared.

Why This Matters for Italian California

For readers of The Italian Californian, this campaign deserves attention because it represents exactly the kind of cultural preservation our community needs.

California’s Italian American history is vast, but often under-told. From San Francisco’s North Beach and waterfront, to San Diego’s Little Italy, San Pedro, San Jose, Sacramento, Monterey, Fresno, the wine country, and the fishing communities of the coast, Italians helped build industries, neighborhoods, churches, restaurants, farms, vineyards, civic organizations, and artistic traditions across the state.

Museums like the Museo Italo Americano help make that history visible.

They preserve more than nostalgia. They preserve evidence. They give future generations a place to see themselves, ask questions, and understand that Italian American identity in California is not just about food or festivals, but also about labor, migration, art, language, entrepreneurship, family, and belonging.

How to Support the Campaign

Those interested in learning more about the capital campaign or requesting a print copy of the campaign brochure can contact the Museo’s Director of Development, Danielle Glynn, or call the Museo at (415) 673-2200.

The Museo’s current location remains at:

Museo Italo Americano
Fort Mason Center
2 Marina Blvd., Building C
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 673-2200

Current public hours are listed as Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and Sunday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Admission is listed as $10 general admission, with free admission for members plus one guest, visitors under 18, Thursdays, and the first Sunday of the month.

The future home is listed as:

Museo Future Home
940 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

The future home is currently listed as open by appointment, with Wednesday and Friday hours from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Final Thoughts

The Museo Italo Americano’s future home at 940 Battery Street is more than a building project. It is a cultural statement.

It says that Italian American history deserves a permanent place in San Francisco. It says that the stories of immigrants, artists, fishermen, families, workers, and dreamers belong in the heart of the city. And it says that heritage is not only something we inherit — it is something we are responsible for protecting.

For anyone who cares about Italian culture in California, the Museo’s capital campaign is worth following, supporting, and sharing. Its future home has the potential to become one of the most important Italian American cultural landmarks on the West Coast.

Organizations

 

 Introduction: Preserving a Living Legacy

The story of Italians in California is not only found in old photographs, churches, or historic neighborhoods—it lives on through the organizations, clubs, and institutions that have carried that heritage forward for generations.

From national groups like the National Italian American Foundation and UNICO National to local societies such as the Italian Heritage Society of the Monterey Peninsula and the Italian American Heritage Society of San Diego, these institutions were often founded by immigrants and their descendants who wanted to preserve their language, traditions, faith, and sense of community in a new land.

Over time, their role has expanded. Today, they are not just guardians of history—they are active cultural centers, hosting festivals, supporting education, promoting business networks, advocating for Italian American representation, and creating spaces where heritage can be experienced in real, everyday life.

Joining or supporting these organizations matters because it keeps that legacy alive. It ensures that the stories of Italian fishermen in San Diego, farmers in the Central Valley, and families in neighborhoods like North Beach and San Pedro are not forgotten—but shared, celebrated, and passed on.

In a state as vast and diverse as California, these groups remind us of something simple but powerful:

Italian culture here is not just something to remember—it is something still being lived.

Italian California Institutions Guide

This master directory brings together the national, statewide, regional, religious, museum, heritage, business, and community organizations that help preserve and promote Italian and Italian American life in California.

Sections: National Organizations • California Statewide Institutions • San Diego • Los Angeles • Monterey & Central Coast • San Jose & Santa Clara Valley • Sacramento • Fresno & Central Valley • San Francisco & Bay Area • Business & Professional Networks

National Italian American Organizations

National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
Website: https://www.niaf.org
Address: 1860 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 939-3100

Italian American Congressional Delegation
Info: https://www.niaf.org/programs/government-relations/

Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO)
Website: https://copomiao.org

Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA)
Website: https://www.osdia.org
Address: 219 E St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 547-2900

UNICO National
Website: https://www.unico.org
Address: 271 US-46 W, Suite F-209, Fairfield, NJ 07004
Phone: (973) 808-0310

Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL)
Website: https://www.iafuture.org
About: https://www.iafuture.org/about
Convention / application info: https://iafuture.org/apply-info

National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW)
Website: https://www.noiaw.org

California Statewide Institutions

Italian Caucus of California
California Legislature: https://www.legislature.ca.gov
Legislators & Districts: https://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts.html
Location: California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
General Capitol Phone: (916) 324-0333

Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles
Website: https://iiclosangeles.esteri.it
Address: 1023 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco
Website: https://iicsanfrancisco.esteri.it
Address: 710 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA

San Diego Institutions, Clubs, and Heritage Organizations

Little Italy Association of San Diego
Website: https://www.littleitalysd.com
Contact: https://www.littleitalysd.com/about/contact-us
Address: 2210 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 233-3898

Convivio Society / Amici House
Website: https://conviviosociety.org
Heritage page: https://conviviosociety.org/heritage/
Address: 221 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Italian American Heritage Society of San Diego
Website: https://italianamericanhs.org/

Italian Archives of San Diego
Website: https://italianarchives.org

Italian Cultural Center of San Diego
Website: https://icc-sd.org
Contact: https://icc-sd.org/contact/
Neighborhood listing: 1629 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 237-0601
Email: info@icc-sd.org

House of Italy, Balboa Park
Website: https://houseofitalysandiego.org
Contact: https://houseofitalysandiego.org/home/contact-us/
Address: 2191 Pan American Rd W, San Diego, CA 92101
Email: houseofitaly@houseofitalysandiego.org

Italian American Business Professionals of San Diego
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/italianamericanbusinesssd

San Diego Italian Festa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sditalianfesta

United Italian American Association
Website: https://uiaasd.com/

American Italian Club of Vista
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/American-Italian-Club-of-Vista-California-100064873950488/

Fratellanza Garibaldina Lodge #1627 (OSDIA / Sons and Daughters of Italy)
Website: https://sonsofitalysandiego.org/

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church
Website: https://olrsd.org
Contact: https://olrsd.org/our-history/contact-us/
Address: 1629 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-4820
Email: parish@olrsd.org

Los Angeles Area

Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA)
Website: https://www.iamla.org
Contact: https://www.iamla.org/contact-museum/
Address: 644 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 485-8432
Email: info@italianhall.org

St. Peter’s Italian Catholic Church
Website: https://stpeteritalianchurchla.org
Contact: https://stpeteritalianchurchla.org/contact-us
Address: 1039 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (323) 225-8119

Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA)
Website: https://lilaa.org
Address: 638 S Beacon St, San Pedro, CA
Phone: (310) 896-5204
Email: info@lilaa.org

Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles
Website: https://conslosangeles.esteri.it

Monterey & the Central Coast

Italian Heritage Society of the Monterey Peninsula
Website: https://www.italianheritagemonterey.org/
Contact / mailing info: https://www.italianheritagemonterey.org/copy-of-about
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 367, Monterey, CA 93942
Email: italianheritagesocietymonterey@gmail.com

San Jose & Santa Clara Valley

Italian American Heritage Foundation
Website: https://www.iahfsj.org/
Address: 425 N 4th St, San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 293-7122
Email: iahfsj@iahfsj.org

Italian Family Festa
Website: https://www.italianfamilyfestasj.org/
Organizer: Italian American Heritage Foundation

Little Italy San Jose
Website: https://www.littleitalysj.com/
Events: https://www.littleitalysj.com/events
Address: 323 W Saint John St, San Jose, CA 95110
Email: joshua@littleitalysj.com

Italian Catholic Federation — San Jose Branch 191
Parish page: https://sfcabrini.org/parish-life/italian-catholic-federation/
Parish: St. Frances Cabrini
Contact: Robert Basuino
Phone: (408) 439-1758

Italian Catholic Federation — San Jose Branch 368
Parish page: https://santateresachurch.com/icf/
Parish: Santa Teresa
Contacts: Mary Ridi and Kathy Schroeder
Phones: (408) 892-1588 / (408) 313-6740

Sacramento Region

Italian Cultural Society of Northern California / Italian Center
Website: https://www.italiancenter.net/
Address: 6821 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael, CA 95608
Phone: (916) 482-5900
Email: italy@italiancenter.net

Italian Catholic Federation — Sacramento Branch 45
Website: https://www.icf.org/sacramento/
Main branch directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: St. Mary
Contact: Janine Orsi
Phone: (916) 508-1199

Fresno & the Central Valley

Italian Heritage Museum Exhibit
Exhibit page: https://www.fresnofair.com/p/education/museums/italian-heritage-museum-exhibit
Main fair site: https://www.fresnofair.com/
Location: Fresno County Historical Museum, 1121 S Chance Ave, Fresno, CA 93702
Phone: (559) 650-3247

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 185
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: Sacred Heart
Contact: Michael Caglia
Phone: (559) 360-8332

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 308
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: St. Anthony of Padua
Contact: Russell Renna
Phone: (559) 355-4050

Italian Catholic Federation — Fresno Branch 417
Directory: https://www.icf.org/membership/branches/list/
Parish: Holy Spirit
Contact: Frank Parisi
Phone: (559) 840-2644

Honorary Vice Consulate of Italy in Fresno
Consular network: https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/la-rete-consolare/
Address: 2125 Merced St, Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: (559) 268-8776
Email: fresno.onorario@esteri.it

San Francisco & Bay Area

Museo ItaloAmericano
Website: https://sfmuseo.org
Contact: https://sfmuseo.org/contact-us/
Address: Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, Building C, San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 673-2200
Email: info@sfmuseo.org

Coalition of Italian American Organizations of the Bay Area (CIAO Bay Area)
Website: https://www.ciaobayarea.com

Italian Community Services
Website: https://www.italiancs.org

San Francisco Italian Heritage Parade
Website: https://sfitalianheritage.org

San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
Website: https://www.sfiac.org

South San Francisco Italian American Citizens Club
Website: https://ssfiacc.org
Location: 783 Tennis Dr, Orange Memorial Park, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Mailing Address: PO Box 5674, South San Francisco, CA 94083-5674
Email: iacc.ssf@yahoo.com

Italian American Club of Rossmoor
Website: https://italianamericanclub.org

Business & Professional Networks

Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West
Website: https://www.iaccw.net

Business Association Italy America (BAIA)
Website: https://baia.org