The Feast of San Gennaro takes over Little Italy each year for 11 days, and this year will mark the 96th anniversary of the special festival.
Beginning on Thursday, September 15, you’ll have plenty of time to chow down on all the cannolis and zeppole Little Italy has to offer.
If you’ve passed by a few days early you’ve probably seen all the festive decorations ready to go and lining the streets in anticipation of the week-and-a-half-long celebration. The Feast of San Gennaro will run from Thursday, September 15 until Sunday, September 25. The celebration is NYC’s largest and longest-running Italian festival and celebrates Italian culture and food, with religious processions, parades, and live music among other festivities.
On Fridays and Saturdays festival hours are extended to midnight. Free music happens most nights from 7:30 p.m. onward, and you can stake out the 24th annual cannoli-eating competition on Friday, September 16 at 1 p.m.
This year, the festival will also bring back the pizza eating contest after last year’s success, which will take place on Friday, September 23 at 1 p.m., in addition to the third annual zeppole eating contest on Wednesday, September 21 at 1 p.m., and the fifth annual meatball eating contest taking place Sunday, September 25 at 1 p.m.
Some other events to keep your eye on include:
- Johnny Mandolin & Friends: Thursday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m.
- The Grand Procession: Floats, celebrities, gondolas, and Red Mike Festival Band, all honoring our Armed Forces: Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.
- Solemn High Mass celebrating the patron Saint of Naples: Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.
- 5th Annual Meatball Eating Contest: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
The Festival takes place on and around Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Streets. Looking for more info? Find it on their website here.
Also published on Medium.