Home to the Italian community in Boston, the historic North End is a popular tourist destination. But the cuisine is what brings people, locals and tourists alike, together! With that being said, it is no surprise that the festivals held in this area include a lot of food. Festival season in the North End usually falls on August and September because of the high number of festivals so close together. Here’s a list of the must-see festivals in the North End.
Feast of Madonna Della Cava
The festival usually runs through the August 9th – 11th on Hanover and Battery streets. The feast of Madonna Della Cava goes all the way back to the 13th century when a young boy from Sicilia mentioned that he was visited by Madonna Della Cava in his dreams. Till this day, modern Italian families in the North End continues to celebrate this feast.
The Fisherman’s Feast
This feast is considered as the oldest feast celebrated in the North End. In 2019, this feast will be celebrated for the 109th time. You can enjoy the festival along the streets of Fleet, Lewis, and North streets on August 15th and the 16th.
Feast of Saint Lucia
On August 22nd and 23rd, Endicott, Thatcher, and Margin streets will be closed off for guests and vendors to celebrate the Feast of Saint Lucia. This feast is celebrated to commemorate Saint Lucia’s unwavering faith and strength throughout history. The celebration includes a statue of the saint being carried through the streets during the festival.
San Gennaro Feast
On September 13th – 15th, the celebration of San Gennaro will be held on the streets of Hanover and Battery. This is the second time this festival is celebrated so we pretty much do not know what to expect yet for this year but sure enough, there will be food!