Feast of San Gennaro

Zeppole. Cannoli. Mostaccioli. Repeat.

This is the mantra I used this weekend at the annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy.

The feast, which was first celebrated in New York City by immigrants on September 19, 1926, honors Saint Gennaro, martyred for the faith in 305 A.D. September 19th is still the most religious day of the week-long feast, featuring a religious procession followed by a celebratory mass at the Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street.

To casual visitors, the feast may just provide a perfect excuse to overindulge. With options ranging from sandwiches with Italian sausage, carmelized onions, and sautéed peppers to oven-fired pizza and homemade lasagna to gelato, cannolis, fried Oreos, and Torrone, there is no way to go home hungry or unhappy, especially when there are options to suit every budget.

For the more frugal visitor, there are plenty of vendors lining the street selling main courses for $6 and desserts for $3. For those interested in taking a more leisurely, albeit more expensive route, there are plenty of outdoor sit-down options with full-scale Italian menus.

Once you’ve eaten too much, take some time to enjoy the carnival games and the live music and bask in the excitement and energy.

Though Sunday marked the final day of this year’s festival, it’s not too late to mark your calendar for next September. Make plans to visit on a weekday if you’d like to try to avoid the crowds and be sure to bring a big appetite.