For 11 days every September, Little Italy hosts the Feast of San Gennaro in honor of the Patron Saint of Naples.
It's a time when the neighborhood is at its most festive. Red, white and green (the colors of the Italian flag) decorations are everywhere and music plays in the streets.
The amazing aroma of Italian food cooked at food trucks fills the air.
It's such a fun New York City tradition, that we include it as one of the top 10 things to do in September.
The feast is a celebration of a religious nature, with processions and masses, including a Solemn High Mass celebrating Saint Gennaro.
But the feast is regarded by most New Yorkers as a food festival. There is so much fantastic food, you cannot help but want to try one of everything!
I know because I have been going to the feast since I was a child. My eyes were always too big for my stomach!
The tradition was started in 1926 by immigrants from Naples, Italy, who had settled in the neighborhood (before it was called Little Italy).
Back then, the feast took place for just one day every September 19th. But now it's 11 days long, thank goodness.
This means I can go every year since I can always find a day in my schedule to head down to Little Italy and eat as much amazing food as possible!
It also means there are more opportunities for you to check it out if you are in New York City at any point in the feast's dates.
Besides food, there is live music every night. The highlight of the feast is the Grand Procession when a giant statue of Saint Gennaro is carried through the streets along with a marching band playing Italian melodies.
You can find out what is happening each day of the feast from the official website.
TIP: When you are at the feast, you might want to explore Little Italy, so check out our post, Things to Do in Little Italy.
When is the Feast?
2025 dates TBD. Last year, the Feast of San Gennaro took place from September 12 through September 22.
The festivities start every day at 11:30 am and end at 11:00 pm (Sundays through Thursdays) and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
At the main stage at Grand and Mott Streets, there is free entertainment every night from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
For a complete schedule of events, click here.
If you are looking for other evening activities, see our posts on things to do at night in NYC and things to do in New York City.
Where is the Feast of San Gennaro?
The Feast of San Gennaro takes place on:
- Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston Streets
- Hester Street between Baxter Street and Centre Street
- Grand between Baxter St. and Centre Market Place
TIP: Learn about the history of Little Italy on one of our guided tours that include the neighborhood:
- SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown Tour
- Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour
- Downtown Manhattan 3-hour Tour (Financial District, SoHo, Little Italy & Chinatown)
- All-in-One Downtown Tour
View our tour calendar for details and the most up-to-date availability.
How to get here
You can use this Google Maps link to get directions from your point of departure to the heart of the festival.
If you are coming by subway take the Q train to Canal Street or the 6 train to Spring Street and walk for 5 to 6 minutes.
New to New York City? Check out our posts on mastering the NYC subway and choosing a subway MetroCard.
What to eat at San Gennaro
One of everything! Kidding aside, there is so much variety you will have a hard time choosing.
Below is a list of traditional foods served at the festival.
All are delicious and you cannot go wrong with any of these.
Savory foods
From left to right: Calzone, Stromboli, Arancini and a Sausage and Peppers Sandwich
Calzone
Kind of like a pizza sandwich, calzone uses pizza dough, and it is folded, sealed, and baked.
They are filled with tomato sauce and usually ricotta cheese instead of mozzarella, and the variations include pepperoni or other meats, sometimes spinach or other cheeses.
They are quite big and very filling.
Stromboli
More like pizza rolls, they are made from a thick version of pizza dough and have meats, cheese, and sometimes tomato sauce rolled inside.
Arancini (rice balls)
This is classic Italian street food. These are small rolled balls of risotto (slowly cooked rice with a creamy consistency).
Often they are accented with just a bit of Romano cheese, then coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried.
Sometimes there may be bits of prosciutto mixed in. If you are a vegetarian, be sure to ask.
Sausage and Peppers
You will see many stands selling this classic, usually served in a large roll, sandwich style.
It is Italian sausage cooked with green bell peppers, red peppers, and cooked sweet onions.
Mostly you will find sweet sausage at the festival. But some have different levels of spiciness.
Be sure to ask before ordering as some Italian sausages can be very, VERY spicy. I learned this the hard way!
Pizza and Pasta
There is no shortage of pizza and pasta.
The Feast of San Gennaro is a great time to try smaller portions of pasta dishes you might not get otherwise, like pasta in clam sauce or oysters.
Sweet foods and coffees
From left to right: Cannoli, Gelato, Zeppole, and an Espresso and a Cappuccino
Cannoli
This dessert originated in Sicily, Italy.
It's a tube-shaped shell of fried dough, filled with a rich, sweet, creamy filling made from ricotta cheese.
Sometimes they have a chocolate ricotta filling or even dipped in dark chocolate on the outside.
Gelato
It’s not just Italian ice cream. Both are delicious, but they are made differently.
Gelato is churned at a slower speed so less air is whipped into the mix, making it richer.
It's served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream so it is not quite completely frozen.
Gelato comes in many flavors and you can order it in a cone or a cup.
Some classic Italian flavors are Bacio (chocolate and hazelnut ), Stracciatella (chocolate chip) and Nocciola (hazelnut).
You can also find the familiars: strawberry, coffee, vanilla, and pistachio.
Zeppoles
This simple but addictive dessert originated in Naples, Italy. Zeppoles are similar to deep-fried fritters except they are golf-ball-sized.
First, the batter is dropped into oil and quickly deep-fried.
Then they are coated with a light film of powdered sugar and served piping hot in a brown paper bag.
So, so good.
Espresso
Espresso is concentrated coffee served in small cups, often with a twist of lemon rind on the edge of the cup.
You won’t see many people add sugar, but you will see Italian Americans drink an espresso shot in one go!
Cappuccino
This is a shot or two of espresso and then filled with steamed milk. Add sugar as you like and enjoy sipping slowly.
So, here you have it. An introduction to this New York City tradition. Check it out!
