The Feast of San Gennaro 2025: NYC’s Ultimate Italian Street Party Trent Warner September 4, 2025 Featured, Festivals, Little Italy If there’s one festival that captures the soul of Little Italy, it’s the Feast of San Gennaro. For 11 days straight, from September 11–21, 2025, Mulberry Street transforms into a carnival of Italian-American food, music, and faith. Over a million people pack the blocks between Canal and Houston (plus Hester Street), making it one of New York’s most legendary street fairs. It’s crowded, it’s chaotic, it smells like sausage and peppers at every corner — and it’s exactly the kind of big flavor energy that defines NYC. Event Overview 📅 Dates: September 11–21, 2025 (full event calendar)📍 Location: Mulberry Street (Canal to Houston) + Hester Street (Baxter to Centre)🕐 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily; later on weekends What to Eat The Feast is first and foremost a food marathon. Expect classics straight out of a red-checkered-tablecloth dream: Sausage & Peppers Sandwiches – the undisputed king of festival eats Zeppole – deep-fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, best eaten standing in the street Cannoli – don’t miss the ones from Ferrara Bakery & Cafe, a neighborhood institution Fried Calzones, Pizza & Pasta – the carb trifecta Street Fair Staples – funnel cakes, corn on the cob, skewers — because New York knows how to mix high and low Pro tip: pace yourself. The stretch from Canal to Houston is long, and everything smells like it’s calling your name. Key Events & Activities The Grand Procession (Sept. 13): Floats, marching bands, and the statue of San Gennaro paraded through Little Italy in full old-world tradition. Solemn High Mass (Sept. 19): A religious ceremony honoring the patron saint of Naples on his official feast day. Eating Competitions: Cannoli and meatball contests that get loud, messy, and hilarious. Live Music & Entertainment: Italian crooners, opera singers, karaoke nights — this year’s lineup includes Eric DeLauro of the Rat Pack Band (Sept. 11). Between the music, parades, and food contests, every day has a little something extra. A Bite of History The Feast started in 1926, when Italian immigrants in Little Italy brought the tradition over from Naples. What began as a one-day religious procession has grown into one of the city’s most famous cultural events. It’s still rooted in faith and tradition, but it’s also become a massive street fair that celebrates the neighborhood’s past and present. Tips for Making the Most of It Go early on weekdays to avoid the shoulder-to-shoulder weekend crowds. Bring cash — many vendors keep it old school. Save room for dessert. A zeppole → cannoli combo is peak San Gennaro behavior. Explore beyond Mulberry. Nolita and Chinatown are right next door if you want to keep the night going. Why We Love It The Feast of San Gennaro is more than a food fest — it’s a living piece of New York history. It’s about Italian heritage, community, and the kind of joyful chaos that makes this city so addictive. Whether you’re here for the cannoli-eating contest, the parades, or just an excuse to crush sausage and peppers in the street, this is September in NYC at its loudest and tastiest. 🔥 Our move: Hit the Grand Procession on Saturday, grab a sausage-and-pepper hero, and end the night with a box of cannoli to go. If you know, you know.
