Beginning on September 14th, the Feast of San Gennaro will return to New York City’s Little Italy for its 97th annual celebration. The “feast of all feasts” attracts Italians and non-Italians alike as the event promises great food, games, music, and other live entertainment that you will not want to miss! For all of the information you will need to enjoy the festivities, please see below:
What is the history behind the Feast of San Gennaro?
In the early 1900s, when Little Italy called itself home to Italians from various regions of Italy, these immigrants tended to settle close to others from their region on specific streets within the ethnic enclave. Neapolitans ended up settling on Mulberry Street, and in 1926, they decided to have a one-day block party for the patron saint of Naples, San Gennaro, in keeping with the traditions from their homeland.
This one-day celebration eventually expanded to the 11-day, 11-block street fair that we know today, drawing crowds from all over the city to take part in this unique celebration of Italian culture.
Who will be at the 2023 Feast of San Gennaro?
Kathrine Narducci, an Italian American actress best known for her role as Charmaine Bucco in The Sopranos, will lead the Grand Procession as Grand Marshall on Saturday, September 16th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM EST. As the first female Grand Marshall of the feast, she will lead the way for the marching bands, floats, antique cars, and of course, the statue of San Gennaro that are featured in the parade.
Otherwise, many individuals from professional baseball are expected to participate in the procession as well, in keeping with the feast’s theme of Italian Americans in baseball:
Anthony Florio (former New York Yankees batboy), Phil Venturino (former New York Met), Dom Scala (former New York Yankee), Lou Bernardi (pitching coach at the US Merchant Marine Academy), Benny Distefano (former Pittsburgh Pirate), Michael Pagliarulo (former New York Yankee), Jeff Manto (former New York Yankee), Sebby Borriello (drafted by the Minnesota Twins), Salvatore Peter Agostinelli (former St. Louis Cardinal), and Frank Prudenti (former New York Yankees batboy)
SAN GENNARO: Join us on September 16 at 2 p.m. for the grand parade of the Feast of San Gennaro, as Italian Americans in baseball will be honored and recognized as part of this year's festivities. Several former Italian American big league players and coaches will be featured on… pic.twitter.com/cUefj5Pwub
Outside of the procession, there will also be several musicians performing throughout the feast. Some of these entertainers, such as Vanessa Racci, are outlined on the Feast of San Gennaro’s website.
Where is the 2023 Feast of San Gennaro?
The feast will run throughout Mulberry Street in New York City’s most famous ethnic enclave of Little Italy. While the bulk of the action will take place on Mulberry between Canal and Houston Streets, you can also walk along Hester Street between Baxter and Centre Streets in addition to Grand Street between Baxter Street and Centre Market Place.
If you are interested in enjoying some of the planned musical acts, the festival stage can be found on the corner of Grand and Mott Streets, just steps from Ferrara Bakery & Cafe which is the oldest pasticceria and espresso bar in America.
When is the 2023 Feast of San Gennaro?
The feast is set to run from Thursday, September 14th, to Sunday, September 24th.
In terms of the live entertainment and main attractions schedule, the dates and times associated with each act can be found on the official San Gennaro Feast calendar attached.
Tips & Recommendations
While your plan for the feast will largely depend on which day you intend to go, one overarching tip to help avoid the crowds is to be sure to use the sidewalks when walking from Point A to Point B. While Mulberry Street is closed off to cars and open to pedestrians for the feast, the street becomes very crowded to the point where it is difficult to walk. For a less cramped experience, ditch the street and use the sidewalk!
When it comes to food, the options available are plentiful. However, there are a few must-try plates to ensure that you get the full San Gennaro experience:
- Sausage and Peppers from Lucy’s
- Cannoli from Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
- Zeppole from Danny on the Corner
- Baked Clams from Umberto’s Clam House
- Torrone from Vinny’s Nut House
The ultimate Italian food crawl is back in NYC 🇮🇹 Find full details + schedule of events at our link in bio ⬅️ Sample everything from authentic pizza and gnocchi to gelato and cannolis. The Feast runs from Sept 14th – 24th and takes place in Manhattan’s Little Italy neighborhood, along Mulberry Street between Canal & Houston 🍝 #LittleItaly #SanGennaro #feastofsangennaro #NYbucketlist
Finally, if you are still looking for a way to celebrate your Italian heritage outside of the feast, be sure to head to Citi Field on Sunday, September 17th, as the New York Mets host the Cincinnati Reds for Italian Heritage Day in partnership with the Italian American Baseball Foundation. With the first pitch set for 1:40 PM EST, attending the game and then heading to Little Italy for a postgame meal presents the perfect opportunity to have a fun-filled day honoring your Italian roots.
Resources:
- The Feast of San Gennaro [Feast of San Gennaro]
- Official Instagram Page of The Feast of San Gennaro [Figli di San Gennaro Inc]
