The Feast of San Gennaro is filling New York City’s Little Italy with faith, music, games and many treats starting Thursday.
The 100th annual festival celebrates the life of San Gennaro, who was the Bishop of Benevento, Italy, and a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church. He is the patron saint and protector of Naples.
The festivities stretch along Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Streets with hundreds of vendors. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend.
Traditional Italian food will be sold, such as the famous sausage and peppers, zeppole and cannoli. There is also a high mass on Saturday and a Grand Procession at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26.
A food vendor hands a sausage to a customer during The Feast Of San Gennaro Festival in 2021.
Alexi Rosenfeld / Getty Images
Several other events are scheduled for the 11-day celebration. Click here for the full list.
The event started as a one-day block party in 1926 and has grown into an iconic tradition.
It’s open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sept. 27. It is open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
The following streets will be closed to cars for the duration of the event:
Mott Street between Canal Street and East Houston StreetMulberry Street between Canal Street and East Houston StreetBaxter Street between Canal Street and Grand StreetCentre Market Place between Grand Street and Broome StreetCentre Street between Canal Street and Broome StreetCleveland Place between Broome Street and Spring StreetLafayette Street between Spring Street and East Houston StreetCanal Street between Bowery and Centre StreetHester Street between Mott Street and Centre StreetGrand Street between Elizabeth Street and Centre StreetBroome Street between Mott Street and Centre Street/Cleveland PlaceKenmare Street between Mott Street and Cleveland PlaceSpring Street between Mott Street and Cleveland Place/Lafayette StreetPrince Street between Mott Street and Lafayette StreetJersey Street between Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street