If you are in New York in September , you have the great opportunity to enjoy the San Gennaro Street Festival in Little Italy in Manhattan . This year it will take place for the 91st time between September 14th and 24th. It is open every day and you can experience the well-known traditional street festival from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. during the week and even until midnight on weekends .
Every day you can hear live music there between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and on some days between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. there are lectures or a “show cooking” (cooking demonstration) on the festival stage. The stage is located between Grand and Mott Streets in Manhattan.
The event takes place annually to celebrate the patron Saint of Naples. However, the name comes from the organizer, “Figli di San Gennaro, Inc.”, which has been hosting and organizing the festival since 1996. This is a foundation with the mission to remember the faith and spirit of the former Italian immigrants to America who lived and worked in the Little Italy neighborhood at the time. The festival is therefore partly influenced by religion, although everyone is still very welcome , regardless of their faith . Try out all the typical traditions of Italian immigrants. There is a great entertainment program and also very great and delicious food.
The food:
There are so many different offerings, including both traditional and new Italian creations. Stroll around the street festival and try to try as many things as possible. At the festival you will find, among other things:
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A wide selection of Italian meats such as sausages, meatballs, roasted meats, chicken skewers, delicious Italian ham, salami and much more
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Cannolis and other delicious Italian pastries
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Chicken, veal and eggplant parmigiana
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Mozzarella cheese
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Zeppolis (Italian donuts)
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Arancini
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fried ravioli
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seafood
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Skampi skewers
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South American arepas
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Real New York bagels in the typical flavors and various toppings
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delicious sweets such as “funnel cakes”, cotton candy, fried Oreo cookies and much more
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Nougat from Torrone and sweets from Piccola Casa Dolce
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Delicious Italian ice cream
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Fried or fresh oysters and mussels
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A large selection of pizza
The conversation:
As already written, there is a large entertainment program with live music, performances , readings , but also “ street performers ”, food competitions , traditional carnival games and much more. But the atmosphere alone is indescribable and you immediately feel like you are part of this fun party. For some events, such as music, there are fixed time slots. However, there are other things you can experience during the entire opening hours:
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There are many great exhibitors from whom you can take a look at the stands
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Chazz Palminteri, as marshal, presents a large parade, which takes place on Saturday, September 16th at 2:00 p.m.
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There will be an opera night on Monday September 18th
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The annual meatball contest will take place from 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 23rd.
Tip : Feel free to bring your own water bottle. This saves money, which you can invest in delicious food. :)
Below is a video for an insight from the street festival:
We hope you enjoy visiting this great New York experience . :)
For those who are not in New York for the street festival and want to visit the true authentic Little Italy that is located in the Bronx, we recommend our Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn Tour (CLICK) . On this tour we will make a stop in Little Italy, Bronx Arthur Avenue.