Feast of San Gennaro 2024: Street festival returns to New York's Little Italy to celebrate food and culture

LITTLE ITALY, Manhattan (WABC) — The Feast of San Gennaro returns to Little Italy on Thursday for 11 days of street food, Italian culture, music and more.

The 98th Feast of San Gennaro begins on Thursday, September 12 and runs through Sunday, September 22. The 11-day festival celebrating Italian culture takes place on Mulberry Street and features traditional food stalls, processions and live entertainment.

This year's Grand Marshal will be Chef Anne Burrell. Burrell is the fan-favorite host of “Worst Cooks in America” ​​on Food Network after making her first television appearances on “Iron Chef America.”

Festival officials say Burrell is an industry veteran and passionate teacher who prides herself on creating rustic Italian dishes that focus on simple, pure ingredients.

This year’s main attractions include Johnny Mandolin & Friends, Eric DeLauro of the Rat Pack Band, Jessa V Quartet, Francesca & Theresa, Angelo Venuto and friends, Ginger Wynn, Vanessa Racci, Ricky Tinelli, Jenna Esposito and more.

The festival celebrates San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, who was martyred. When Italian immigrants moved to the Lower East Side of Manhattan in the early 20th century, the immigrants from Naples settled around Mulberry Street.

Starting in 1926, the Neapolitans began holding a one-day street festival every year in honor of their patron saint. Since then, the annual tradition has developed into a multi-day commemoration of Saint Gennaro, the Italian people and their history.

Further information about this year’s Feast of San Gennaro can be found here.

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