The smell of sizzling sausage and peppers, fresh cannolis, and powdered-sugar-covered zeppoles has once again taken over Williamsburg as NYC’s beloved Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast (OLMC Feast) has returned for 2026. Through Sunday, July 19, North 8th Street transforms into a 12-day Italian street festival packed with carnival rides, live entertainment, and one of New York City’s most unforgettable traditions: the world-famous Dancing of the Giglio, where a 70-foot, four-ton tower is carried through the streets by more than 100 people.
With roots dating back to 1887, the feast has since evolved into one of NYC’s largest Italian-American festivals. Today, thousands of visitors gather each July around the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for food, music, games, and the centuries-old Giglio tradition honoring San Paolino.
Here’s everything you need to know before visiting one of NYC’s most beloved summer traditions.
🇮🇹 How an Italian tradition from the 1800s became one of NYC’s biggest summer festivals
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast traces its roots back to 1887, when immigrants from Southern Italy brought their religious traditions to Williamsburg.
Devoted to San Paolino, the patron saint of Nola, they established the Società M.S. San Paolino, which organized Brooklyn’s first Giglio Feast in 1903. In the 1950s, the celebration merged with the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel under the leadership of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, creating the annual 12-day festival.
Today, the centuries-old tradition and remains a treasured tradition in Brooklyn, drawing thousands of visitors each July.
👀 The highlight of the festival: the world-famous Dancing of the Giglio
The highlight of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast is the world-famous Dancing of the Giglio, when a towering 70-foot, four-ton Giglio is lifted and carried through the streets of Williamsburg by more than 100 people.
“Giglio,” the Italian word for “lily,” is an ornate wooden and aluminum tower adorned with flowers and painted images of saints and angels, topped with a statue of either Saint Paulinus (San Paolino) or Our Lady of Mount Carmel, depending on the year’s celebration.
The Giglio is paraded alongside a symbolic boat, which is also lifted by carriers in honor of Saint Paulinus’s legendary return to Nola after sacrificing his freedom to save a young man. Together, the synchronized lifting of the Giglio and the boat creates one of New York City’s most remarkable—and centuries-old—summer traditions.
🎡 What to expect at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast
While the Giglio is the festival’s main attraction, there’s plenty more happening throughout the 12-day celebration.
- 🎢 Carnival rides & games: Classic midway rides and games line North 8th Street throughout the festival
- 🌭 Italian street food: Grab sausage and peppers, zeppoles, cannolis, roasted corn, Italian ice, and more from dozens of vendors
- 🎶 Daily live entertainment: Expect live music, performances, and entertainment throughout the feast
- ⛪ Religious celebrations: Masses, processions, and traditions honoring Our Lady of Mount Carmel and San Paolino take place throughout the week
- 🇮🇹 Neighborhood tradition: Experience one of Brooklyn’s oldest Italian-American celebrations alongside thousands of locals and visitors
📅 Don’t miss these signature events
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast officially kicked off on Wednesday, July 8, but there’s still plenty to see.
Whether you’re planning to visit for the food or to witness the world-famous Dancing of the Giglio, these are the festival’s biggest events:
- 👧 Children’s Giglio: Thursday, July 9 | 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm & Tuesday July 14 | 7 pm – 11 pm
- 💪 Dancing of the Giglio & Boat: Sunday, July 12 | 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm (the biggest event)
- 🌙 Night Lift of the Giglio: Wednesday, July 15 | 7:30 pm
- 🙏 Feast Day: Thursday, July 16 | 9 am – 9 pm
Pro tip: Planning to watch the Giglio lifting? Arrive at least an hour early. It’s the feast’s biggest event and crowds gather well before the lifting begins. If you’re mainly coming for the food, weekday evenings are generally less hectic than the weekend.
📍 Event details at a glance
- What: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast 2026
- Where: 275 North 8th Street, Williamsburg
- When: July 8–19, 2026
- Cost: Free admission