For those of us who live in Italian American communities, festival time can be better than Christmas. Whether a festival for a patron saint, traditional foods or ethnic pride, Italian American festivals bring out the best in the community and in many places are the highlight of the year. Everywhere the early Italian immigrants settled they brought with them their traditions and the strongest of these bonds to the Old Country was the Catholic faith and its adherents to its calendar of saints feast days.
Besides the major religious feasts celebrated widely, there were also many feasts dedicated to local saints and these traditions were reintroduced once immigrants from the same parts of Italy starting forming their own enclaves in places like New York and Boston. Some were small affairs held in households or in the side streets, while others grew to huge celebrations complete with amusements and live performances all illuminated by multi-colored lights hanging above the streets.
Unfortunately, as the descendants of the first immigrants left the old neighborhoods, many festivals dwindled down until they ceased to be celebrated. The Italian ethnicity was being quickly assimilated into the larger American culture and with this change, many forgot these traditions and their ancestral language. However, on a positive note resurgence in ethnic pride among Italian Americans has seen a rebirth of the Italian festival in the last twenty years, with new festivals springing up all across the country. Not only are these new festivals gaining momentum, but it seems that in many places the younger generations are carrying on the older festivals with renewed gusto – and becoming a boon to their respective city’s tourism in the process.
Traditional Religious Italian Festivals
These are the festivals that the original immigrants brought with them and continued to practice in places such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. Many of these have been celebrated for close to one hundred years and are continuations of even older Italian festivals dating from the middle ages. The focal point of these festivals is usually a particular saint that is significant to the community, be it a local patron saint or a saint dedicated to a local occupation. In New York City’s Little Italy descendants of the original Neapolitan immigrants venerate San Gennaro, patron saint of Naples while in many fishing communities (like my hometown of Gloucester, Ma) St. Peter is venerated as the patron saint of fishermen. A large part of the veneration process includes an image of the saint, often a beautifully carved statue that is paraded through the community and displayed at the local church or an elaborately decorated temporary altar. Many of the traditional festivals still hold a nine-day session of the rosary known as a novena before the actual feast begins on that particular saint’s feast day. Once the feast begins, festivities can range from solemn processions to boisterous parades, from Italian music and games to a full-blown carnival.
In today’s world where the festivals can often be taken for granted as just a great party, it is the novena, and the other religious aspects that keep the true link to the past alive. Our secular society is often at odds with the value systems that brought about these religious festivals and yet it seems that the younger generations still enjoy participating. The older generations often lament the loss of faith in the young people and wonder how religious festivals can survive without losing their soul. However, the fact is nothing in human culture is static and every generation celebrates in their own way, often against the wishes of the elders. Times have changed but the Italian American spirit remains strong and with the help of corporate and community sponsorship, some of these traditional festivals are actually expanding. Some of the larger festivals have become annual tourist attractions, bringing in needed revenue to the old Italian American communities that hold the events and often benefiting the city as a whole.
The New Italian Festivals in the US
Within the last twenty years, many Italian American communities nationwide have started to either rekindle old traditions or start new ones. These new festivals are often inspired by ethnic pride rather than religion, but they still bring out the same spirit and of course, a lot of fun. The old Heart of Italy neighborhood of Chicago is now home to an annual food and wine festival in honor of the Northern Italian roots of the first immigrants. Seattle may not seem like an “Italian” city, but the first Italian immigrants arrived over one hundred years ago. Today Festa Seattle is a large event held in the heart of the city and includes everything from food and wine (including a grape stomp), music, sports, film festivals and even an Italian auto show. One of the newest Italian American festivals is the six year old San Gennaro festival held in Los Angeles in honor of both the Neapolitan saint and the older festival held in New York. The feast and its non-profit foundation (to benefit the city’s underprivileged children) was organized and supported by prominent LA residents of Italian heritage such as comedian Jimmy Kimmel, producer Doug DeLuca and honorary members such as Tony Danza and Joe Mantegna
Whether a traditional feast or one of the newer events, Italian American festivals are a great time for everyone and are worth seeking out. Best of all is that most festivals take place in the summer or early fall so can be included into a vacation. Make sure to contact local chambers of commerce to find out about even more Italian American festivals. There are hundreds out there but most do not have their own web sites.
By Justin Demetri
Italian-American Events Listed by State:
Please email us about your festival and we will add it to this list.
Arizona Italian Festivals
Peoria – San Gennaro Festival: sangennarofeast.com
California Italian Festivals
Carlsbad – Festa Italiana: http://www.sonsofitalysandiego.org
Los Angeles – Feast of San Gennaro: www.feastofla.org
Oakland – Temescal Street Festival and Festa Italiana: August/September
Redwood City – Columbus Day Italian American Heritage Celebration: October
Sacramento – Festa Italiana: http://www.italiancenter.net
San Diego – Little Italy Festa: http://www.littleitalysd.com
San Diego – Cinema Sud, Italian Film Festival: http://www.sandiegoitalianfilmfestival.com/
San Francisco – North American Trentino Convention
San Francisco – Feste of the Madonna del Lume: September
San Jose – Italian Family Festival: http://www.iahfsj.org
San Juan Capistrano – Italian Celebration of the Swallows Return: http://www.missionsjc.com
San Mateo – Festa Italiana: July
San Rafael – Italian Film Festival: http://www.italianfilm.com
Santa Barbara – Festa Italiana: October
Santa Rosa – Festa Italiana: September
Visalia – Putignano-Visalia Sister City Italian Festival: October
Colorado Italian Festivals
Denver – Feast of St. Rocco: August
Connecticut Italian Festivals
Ansonia – Italian Festa: August
New Haven – St. Andrew Festa
New Haven – Feast of St. Anthony di Padova: June
North Haven – Italian Festival of Angels: August
Norwich – The Taste of Italy: September
Stratford – Italian Picnic: August
Waterbury – San Donato Festa: August
Waterbury – Lady of Mount Carmel Festival
Westport – Festival Italiano: July
Delaware Italian Festivals
Wilmington – St. Anthony’s Italian American Festival: http://www.stanthonynet.org
Wilmington – Vendemnia Da Vinci, Wine & Gravy Contest: http://www.societadavinci.org/
Florida Italian Festivals
Coachman Park, Clearwater – The LIADO San Gennaro Festa
Delray Beach – Columbus Day Italian Festa: October
Fort Walton Beach – Festa Italiana Columbus Day Weekend: http://www.fwbchamber.org/
Jupiter – Sorrento Cheese Feast of Little Italy: http://www.feastoflittleitaly.com
Palm Coast – Festa: http://www.iascpc.com
Port St. Lucie – Taste of Little Italy: http://www.tasteoflittleitaly.net
Tampa – St. Joseph Festa
Tampa, Centennial Park – Ybor City – Festa Italiana
Tallahassee- Festa Italiana – February
Venice – Italian Feast and Carnival
Vero Beach – Columbus Day Fest: October
Vero Beach – Italian Food Festival
Illinois Italian Festivals
Chicago Heights – Feast of St. Lorenzo: August
Chicago, Northlake – St. Joseph: March
Chicago, Northlake – Villa Day: September
Farmington – Italian Fest: September
Melrose Park – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival: July
Peoria, Hickory Grove Park – Annual Summer Festa Picnic: http://www.italianamericansociety.com
Rockford – Festa Italiana: August
Springfield – Ethnic Festival: September
Stone Park – Feast of St. Francesco di Paola: August
Stone Park – Italian Day Picnic: August
Stone Park – Feast of St. Beato Giovanni Liccio di Caccamo: May
Indiana Italian American Festivals
Clinton – Little Italy Festival: http://www.thelittleitalyfestival.org/
Kentucky
Louisville – Festa Italiana: http://wetheitalians.com/default/louisville-celebrates-italian-roots
Newport – Italianfest
Louisiana Italian American festivals
Harvey – St. Rosalie Parish Fair: September
New Orleans – Maria Santissima Della Favara Feast: September
Massachusetts
Boston – Fisherman’s Feast (Madonna del Soccorco di Sciacca): www.fishermansfeast.com
Boston – Madonna Della Cava Festival: August
Boston – Madonna del Grazie: July
Boston – Italia Unita: https://www.facebook.com/Italia-Unita-119288271485706/
Boston – Saint Anthony’s Feast: http://www.saintanthonysfeast.com
Cambridge – Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian: https://www.cosmas-and-damian.org/
East Boston – Italia Unita Festival: https://www.facebook.com/Italia-Unita-119288271485706/
Gloucester – St. Peter’s Fiests
Lawrence – Feast of the Three Saints Labor Day
Malden – St. Rocco Feast Society: http://www.maldencatholic.org
North Adams – Italian Street Fair
Worcester – Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: July
Maryland
Baltimore – Feast of St. Anthony: http://www.littleitalymd.com
Baltimore – Feast of San Gabriel: http://www.littleitalymd.com
Mitchellville – Annual Villa Rosa Italian Festival: September
Maine
Portland – Feast of Assumption & St. Rocco’s Street Bazaar: August
Michigan
Grand Rapids – Festa Italiana: August
Sterling Heights – Italian Festival: July
Minnesota
Chisolm – Festa Italiana: July
Duluth – Italian American Festival
Missouri
Saint Louis – Columbus Day Parade and Festival: October
North Carolina
Charlotte – Ciao, Italia, Italian Festival
Nebraska
Omaha – La Festa Italiana Labor Day Weekend: September
New Jersey
Bayonne – Italian Carnival: August
Gloucester County – Italian Heritage Festival: September
Hammonton – Feast of Mount Carmel
Hoboken – St. Ann’s Italian Festival: http://stannhoboken.com/
Hoboken – Hoboken Italian Festival:http://www.hobokenitalianfestival.com
Jersey City – La Festa Italiana: http://www.holyrosarychurch.com/feast.htm
Lodi – Festa di San Giuseppe: http://www.saintjosephsociety.org
North Wildwood – Italian American Weekend: June
Oakhurst – Italian American Festival: August
Union – Columbia Italian Club
West Windsor – Mercer Country Italian American Festival: http://www.italianamericanfestival.com ( promoted by Barry Chiorello http://www.barrychiorello.com ): The festival features food from regional Italian restaurants, an Italian market,
art, memorabilia, cooking demonstrations, book readings, music including national recording acts, dancing, amusement rides, children’s entertainment, bocce and fireworks.
Wildwood – Festa Italiana: September
Scotch Plains-Fanwood – St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church and Academy and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Chapter of UNICO present their Italian Feast. This is feast an annual tradition in honor of San Nicola di Bari. There are rides, great food, music and games for all ages. Nightly 50/50drawings and a Super 50/50 on Sunday. The 2009 feast will be celebrated Labor Day Weekend – Friday September 4th through Monday, September 7th. The hours are 4:30pm to 10:30pm daily. Come join the festivities! 2032 Westfield Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ
Nevada
Las Vegas – San Gennaro Feast:http://www.sangennarofeast.com
Reno – Eldorado Great Italian Festival:http://www.eldoradoreno.com
New York
Annual Italian Festival – Cellini Lodge #2206
Michael J. Tully Park (Indoor Pool),
Denton Avenue / Evergreen
New Hyde Park
Aug
6PM-11PM (W/T/F) 3PM-11PM (S/S)
International Food Court, Zeppoles, Pastries, Rides, Las Vegas Games of Chance including Black Jack, Vendors, Musical Entertainment (each evening), Fireworks (Sat) and Community Appreciation Day (Sunday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ~ FREE ADMISSION plus ½ PRICE PASTA).
Musical Entertainment:
Wednesday – The Gianni Monti (Italian Night)
Thursday – Sweetwater
Friday – Risky Business
Saturday – Don Felice (Italian Night)
Sunday – The PJ Day Trippers (Beatles Tribute Band)
Admission: Adults $1.00 and children under 8 FREE / FREE on Sunday 3PM – 5 PM plus 1/2 price pasta
Name: Cellini Lodge #2206 – The Sons of Italy
Phone Number: 516-747-1680
Bronx – St. Anthony Feast: July
Bronx – Mount Carmel Feast: July
Brooklyn – Feast of the Giglio: http://www.OLMCfeast.com
Buffalo – Sorrento Cheese Italian Heritage Festival: http://www.buffaloitalianfestival.com
Canandaigua – Canandaigua Italian Festival: http://www.bardeenenterprises.com/italianfest.htm
Glen Clove – Tomato Festival: August
Glen Clove – Feast of St. Rocco: July to August
Hempstead – Hofstra University Italian Festival: https://www.hofstra.edu/
Hulbert on – St. Rocco Italian Festival: September
Manhattan – San Gennaro Festival: http://www.sangennaro.org
Mechanicville – Feast of the Assumption: August
New Hyde Park – Long Island Italian Festival: August
New York – St. Gandolfo Feast: June
Oyster Bay – St. Rocco Festival: July
Poughkeepsie – Festa Italiana:http://www.theitaliancenter.com
Rochester – Festa Italiana:http://www.iaccrochester.org
Syracuse – A Taste of Italy/Festa Italiana: http://www.festaitaliana.bizland.com/
Utica – Festival of Saints Cosmos and Damian: September
Valhalla – Italian Festival: July
Watertown – Mount Carmel Italian Religious Festival: September
Watertown – Bravo Italian Festival: September
White Plains – Festa Italiana https://sjeolmc.org/events/festa
White Plains – St. Anthony of Padua Church Festa Italiana: June
Ohio
Akron – Summit County Italian-American Festival:http://www.it-am.org
Canton – Italian American Festival:http://www.cantonitalianfesta.org
Cleveland – Italian American Summer Festival:http://www.italianamericansummerfestival.com
Cleveland – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival: July
Cleveland – Italian Film Festival: September
Cleveland – Little Italy Feast of the Assumption: August
Columbus – Columbus Italian Festival:http://www.columbusitalianfestival.com
Lowellville – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festa: July
Niles – Italian American Festival: July
Warren – Warren Italian Festival: August
Youngstown – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival: https://www.olmcfeast.com/
Oklahoma
McAlester – Italian Festival: http://www.italianfestival.org
Tulsa – Taste of Italy: http://www.italianamericansocietyoftulsa.com
Oregon
Portland – Festa Italiana:http://www.festa-italiana.org
Pennsylvania
Aliquippa – Festa di San Rocco:http://www.sanrocco.org
Crabtree – Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:http://www.rizzosmalabarinn.com
Bloomfield – Little Italy Days: September
Bristol – Lions Italian Festival Day: August
Dunmore – Italian Festival: August
Easton – Tempo Italiano
Erie – St. Paul’s Church Italian Festival: August
Erie – St. Paul’s Festival of the Assumption: August
Erie – St. Joseph’s Day Celebration: March
Erie – Mazzini Civic Association Italian American Picnic: July
New Kensington – Festa Italiana: https://www.mountsaintpeter.org/
Norristown – Maria Santissima del Soccorso di Sciacca Festa: August
Norristown – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival: July
Norristown – Santissimo Salvatore di Montella Festival: August
Old Forge – Felittese Festival:http://felitto.net
Philadelphia – Feast of St. Anthony di Padova: June
Philadelphia – Padre Pio Festival at Annunciation BVM: September
Philadelphia – Northeast Italian Festival: September
Philadelphia – St. Vendemmia Festival: http://www.vendemmiafoundation.org
Pittsburgh – Festa Italia: October
Scranton – Italian Festival:http://www.lafestaitaliana.org
Vandergrift – Festa Italiana di Vandergrift: https://festaitaliana.us/index.html
Rhode Island Newport –
Festa Italiana: October
Providence – Italian Arts and Music Festival
Westerly – Mount Carmel Feast: July
South Carolina
Myrtle Beach – Sons of Italy Italian Festival: September
Tennessee Italian Festivals
Memphis – Memphis Italian Festival:http://www.memphisitalianfestival.com
Nashville – Italian Street Fair: September
Texas Italian Festivals
Houston – Italian Festival:www.tourtexas.com
Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah Italian Festival
“FERRAGOSTO” celebrates the traditional Italian arts & crafts, music, dance and delicious food of the
Italian communities living in the Salt Lake Valley.
The Festival is a celebration of Italian Art, Music, Entertainment, Games such as “bocce ball”
and Food that’s an Art all its own!
August 23-24, 2013
Family Oriented Event
1929 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT
Friday, August 23
5:00pm to 9:00pm Saturday, August 24
10:30am to 9:00pm
Virginia Italian Festivals
Alexandria – Italian Festival: September
Richmond – Italian Street Festival
Richmond – Saint Joseph Italian Festival: http://www.sjfestival.com
Washington Italian Festivals
Seattle – Festa Primavera:http://www.danteseattle.org
Seattle – Festa Italiana Seattle: http://www.festaseattle.com
Walla Walla – Italian Heritage Days Festa & Parade
Wisconsin Italian Festivals
Milwaukee – Festa Italiana – Italian art, food and entertainment, July.
