Don't Miss This Year's Feast of San Gennaro!

The 82nd Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York City’s longest-running, biggest and most revered religious outdoor festival, will be held from now through Sunday, September 20, 2009, on the streets of historic Little Italy, the lower Manhattan neighborhood which served as the first home in America for hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants who came here seeking to improve their lives beginning in the early 20th century.

Presented annually since 1996 by Figli di San Gennaro, Inc. (Children of San Gennaro), a not-for-profit community organization dedicated to keeping alive the spirit and faith of the early Italian immigrants, this year’s Feast will once again attract more than one-million people from the four corners of the globe to the streets of Little Italy to participate in the annual Salute to the Patron Saint of Naples.

Although this is a celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro is known the world over for its festive atmosphere, an 11-day event featuring religious processions and colorful parades, free musical entertainment every day, a wide variety of ethnic food delicacies, charming restaurants and cafes and even a world-famous cannoli-eating competition!

The central focus of the celebration takes place every September 19th, the official Saint Day when a celebratory Mass is held in Most Precious Blood Church, followed immediately by a religious procession in which the Statue of San Gennaro is carried from its permanent home in the church through the streets that comprise Little Italy.

One of the most popular attractions in New York City, the Feast of San Gennaro features activities for the entire family that take place on Mulberry, Hester and Grand Streets, from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). The local streets are decorated with festive banners and arches in green, white and red, the colors of the Italian flag. More than 40 of Little Italy's famous Italian restaurants, many of them landmarks, roll out the red carpet for Feast visitors, and many provide outdoor dining facilities for the event, offering a variety of Italian specialty foods and pastries. Some restaurants even have strolling musicians and singers to entertain their customers.

During the Feast hours, Mulberry Street between Canal Street to the south and Houston Street to the north, as well as Hester and Grand Streets, between Mott Street to the east and Baxter Street to the west, are closed to vehicular traffic. Food vendors, featuring popular Italian delicacies including pepper and sausage sandwiches, zeppoles and gelatos, as well as carnival games and rides, attracts are part of the allure of the Feast which attracts the visitors from all over the globe each year.

The festivities – including religious processions and parades, free musical entertainment, food stands and a professional cannoli-eating contest – are capped on Saturday, Sept. 19th with a celebratory Mass followed by a religious procession as the Statue of the Saint is carried from its permanent home in Most Precious Blood Church at 110 Baxter Street between Canal and Hester Streets through the streets of the Feast.

More than 300 street vendors set up shop along the Festival Streets selling a wide variety of goods and merchandise, including international foods, official Little Italy souvenir items and boutique merchandise including jewelry, accessories and clothing. The Feast also has arcade games as well as many fun activities for the younger members of the family, including carnival rides.

For more information, visit www.sangennaro.org.