The 91st Feast of San Gennaro Kicked Off

Michelle Wong

MEDP 201

Word Count: 403

When mid September arrives, summer swings away while fall rapidly rolls in. Around this time, the 91st annual Feast of San Gennaro came to help bid farewell to summer.

The Feast of San Gennaro takes place every year in September, during the last days of summer in Little Italy. It brings together many local businesses and restaurants to celebrate Italian food and culture.

The tradition of this festival is to honor the Patron Saint of Naples. Before the festivities kicked off, a celebratory Mass was held on September 19th. After the mass, the Statue of San Gennaro was carried throughout Italy and the celebration began.

In the presence of the storm on Tuesday night, small crowds still came out to grab small bites and to have an eventful evening. There were many finger-food stands as well as boutiques to shop at. These local boutiques sold jewelry, phone accessories, refrigerator magnets, and many random things that gave consumers more options. Live performances, game stands, and the ferris wheel add to the list of activities at the feast.

The food choices at San Gennaro were endless. Many stands served traditional Italian recipes while some served more modern fusion dishes. There were sausages, pizzas, zeppoles, cannoli and gelato. Some modernized restaurants served spaghetti and calamari in a paper cone.

Other than endless food options, there were many drink stands that served Pina Coladas in cups that were different shapes. These stands offered free refills throughout the night as well. There were also many lemonade flavors to satisfy thirsty fair attenders.

As a result of the gloomy weather, there was less foot traffic, but made more room for people who attended. On a sunny day, the fair would be hard to travel through. It is usually impossible to find parking. Swarms of tourists gather in big clutters and stop to take photos, which slows down the smooth flow.

Confection stand owners seemed more at ease this night. Without feeling overwhelmed and unable to juggle with all the customers’ orders, they appeared to be enjoying the festival while they were serving and conducting business.

The ambiance of the fair at night was vibrant. Many colorful lights were added to increase the warm tone of Little Italy. The additional lights from the ferris wheel attracted people from all around to The Feast of San Gennaro.

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