San Gennaro Feast

If you won’t authentic Italian food, desserts, music and more this is the place for you. It has everything Italian you can imagine and is very enjoyable.

I’ve been going to this Feast of San Gennaro Festival since the 1970’s. My how its changed… The Old World Italians knew how to celebrate… I miss those days! It’s not the same any longer.
Give me the old world

I’m sorry about the negative experiences some of the reviewers have had at the San Gennnaro Feast. In general I’m not a fan of street festivals, but I like this one — mostly because of its location — very easy to grab yummies from Rice to Riches and Ferrara to satisfy my sweet tooth. It’s fun to eat at these places and then to listen to the festival live music or to just people-​watch. I had some meat on a stick from one of the vendors, and it was good. There’s also a parade, free concerts every day, a cannoli-​eating contest, a blood drive, a ⁹⁄₁₁ memorial, and a cake for Frank Sinatra’s birthday from Ferrara. I’m sure there are San Gennaro Feasts all over the world, but this is uniquely New York’s Italian-​American festival!

If you like Old School Italian food, this feast is for you. You name the food, they got it. But buy from the food vendors and stay away from the Little Italy tourist trap restaurants which you can visit any time. Highly recommend you visit this feast at least once if in NYC, where street fairs are king.

SO MANY PEOPLE. This made me feel claustrophobic and the street food wasn’t impressive. If you’ve never been to San Gennaro Feast before it is definitely something to experience but I probably will not be returning in the future. If I want good Italian food I can just return to little Italy any other day.

San Gennaro Feast. I love it. Italian food festival. Everywhere. September 10 – 20, 2015. Mmmmmm.
Blocks and blocks of Italian foods done truck and tent style. Many go from town to town, but I think some of the better ones are the local Italian eateries that open up their storefronts to throw down some good grub. You’ll find it all here, and even non-​Italian stuff but festival favorites, Fried Oreos and Potato Tornadoes.
It’s very touristy but if you can let yourself live a little, it’s great fun. At one of the ends of the festival, a stage and sound is setup, and some older Italian music group played all the favorites, led by «In Napoli where love is king. When boy meets girl here’s what they say. When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie. That’s amore.»
I’ve been to the festivals in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and they are all good. Yes, San Gennaro Feast — that’s amore.

Although I have mixed feelings about the San Gennaro Feast, I still manage to find myself here every year battling the crowds to those food booths. Little Italy is cramped enough as it is. (And unfortunately getting smaller and smaller with each passing year.) But I’m still glad that the businesses that are still around are standing strong and definitely benefit from this food festival.
Upon entrance, I see there’s a bit of a commotion. Once I deduce that the crowds aren’t because of a fight or whatnot, I realize that Mariah Carey is there. Just hanging out, buying a sandwich. No, she didn’t sing «Touch My Body» or «All I Want For Christmas Is You» (I WISH.) but it was cool running into her.
After that died down, my friend and I headed to find a solid bite to eat. Definitely come here with an empty stomach and prepare yourself for a carb overload. I snagged myself a Meatball Parm and a Cannoli because when in Little Italy… but yes, the prices are jacked up but it’s a fun event to go to. And the sweet, sweet smells are sure enough to bring you in.
*To note: Doesn’t matter what booth you hit up, the prices are pretty comprable no matter how deep you go into the crowds.

I have to tell you guys something, and this is from the heart my friends. I love FESTIVALS !! San Gennaro is the ultimate block party of all block parties, this my friends is the «Grand Daddy» of all festivals to be had. Can you really blame New York City for going all out like this? Basically «Go Big» or «Go Home» I’d say.
I say this because the San Gennaro festival is simply 10 days of non stop madness and mayhem. This is where Mulberry St. is closed off so no vehicles can pass, but the tourist and so forth, they can invade the streets and pretend they are Italian for the week. This coming from a Philly guy, who does come up to the big apple every once in a while just to hang out.
I used to make trips to Little Italy at least 3 – 4 times a year, where it is just the regular crowded streets. Now that there is 10 days of this I could only imagine what it is like for the locals. Back in Philly we have the «Italian Market Festival» where it is just 2 days of festivities. This is where they have 9^th St. with a few surrounding blocks are closed off. Again that is 2 days, not 10.
We all know the food is going to be banging from the restaurants having tables set outside with pasta dishes being served to porchetta and sausages waiting to be eaten. Funnel cake and more, to the «Hey these guys over here make they best cannoli» debate rages on. We all know it’s Ferrara Bakery on Grand and Mulberry, but then again I like Angelo’s. You see, this is a healthy «lets get our grub on» kind of competitions, followed with that perfect espresso. That is for another debate, now it is about San Gennaro.
Ok so I rambled a little back there, but just imagine a sea of people congregating every 10 feet to eat something. Here is the scene you ready? One starts to walk and then we are all stopping, eating, walk 5 feet and stopping again to eat. You will leave full or drunk, maybe both because with every stop you need a refill. From red or white wine, maybe another beer that is sold from the bars, not to worry they have your back. Kids, well there is soda or water to keep quenched with more sweet delights to keep them going.
I try to make it a point to stop at least one day a year during the festival, you should to. Enjoy it, everyone is happy and hey it is a perfect time to love thy neighbor. You’d definitely be real up close and personal with them trying to shuffle through.
Until next year my fellow Unilocalers, enjoy and be safe.

What a great festival! The food options are unlimited some authentic Italian food everywhere you turn. Between the indoor and outdoor dining and the street food you won’t leave hungry! My favorites were: La Mela for sit down dinner. Lucy’s Sausage food cart for lunch get the pork braciole with broccoli rob on a hero. Ferrara bakery for dessert best cannoli in NYC!

staying on Grand and Mott when in town for UYD at the Gramercy. Had cherrystones from Umberto’s. Lovely ladies abound.
There’s just not enough Italians to go around.

This festival definitely doesn’t seem like what it used to be.
I would recommend coming during the week, because the weekend crowds make it pretty un-​enjoyable. Long lines, pushing and shoving, mediocre room temperature food. Not my scene. Just to feel like the Saturday evening wasn’t a complete waste of time, I shared a sausage and peppers sandwich with someone else and it was decent. I wish the bun had been a little toasted, but can’t ask for too much here. If you’re around, try the zeppoles or fried Oreos. Skip waiting on the long lines for the legendary restaurants and go back after the festival for a more unique experience.

The festival is fun and for the whole family. Bought everything from the Italian sausage sandwich to the cannoli’s and zeppoli’s. Wish it was held on a wider street but Mulberry is what’s left of Little Italy. All in all a solid place to go to and eat. Oh, and live bands play in certain times

I went after work. I almost missed the feast again this year. My first cannoli sooo good. The Italian sausage plenti of it and delish. This is a great festival. Next year I will more of the festivities.

What can I say that not everyone has already said. It is a nice fair celebrating San Gennaro, but its not what it used to be. However, you can always get your favorite foods such as the italian sausage, zeppoles, pasta anything, and of course your fill of cannolis. I for one do not pass up the opportunity when I come to the feast to stop by my favorite bakery, Ferrara. All in all, the San Gennaro feast has become a touristy thing to do.

So we went again the next day (a Monday), right around 3pm. It was much nicer at this time. Still a good amount of people around, but not super crowded and smelly and dirty. We had fried oreos at one of the stands closer to the beginning of the festival, and they were piping hot and delicious. There were lots of different vendors for unique items and souvenirs and I was actually able to stop and browse and purchase this time.
I would come again, but I definitely recommend coming at a less busy time (not around dinner time, and not on the weekend).

Used to be dope up until 10 years ago.
Pretty mediocre now, with all the gentrified cafes and chinatown infringing on Little Italy’s turf.
As for the sausage and peppers, pizza, and fried zeppoles… I honestly think I can find more delicious options at Hoboken street fairs.
And its mad crowded… but…where are all the Italian people?
Not here.

Skip all the deep-​fried garbage that sits in its own waste — hop over to the corner of Mulberry and Grand for the best sausage and peppers cart. It’s seriously THE spot for a solid sandweech. Throw a long pepper on there (optional) — it’s a Russian Roulette of whether it’ll be hot or not — and tip handsomely. Happy San Gennaro, y’all!!!

I used to remember loving San Gennaro as a kid, but maybe that’s just because of all the bright lights. The games are gimmicky, hard to win and the prizes suck.
The food is actually pretty disgusting, as the workers do not wash their hands and handle a ton of different things.
However, I always go back for my yearly fill of deep fried oreos (highly recommend Ray’s Candy Store for these if you want them when San Gennaro isn’t around). I looove these. The oreos become soft after frying them, which contrasts the crunch of the deep fried batter. Topped with powdered sugar, anything is better.
Tried the stuffed donuts too — recommend against this as the icing is terrible and the donut itself is too cakey.
The mini doughnuts are adorable! They’re not as crispy as I’d like, but you get to watch them from being piped, going along its way in Oildom, and then finally flipped over. Got the nutella ones and they’re nice and hot. Would recommend these if you like doughnuts.
The steak sandwich and meatballs I tried were subpar as well — the steak thin and bland and the meatballs COLD.

Pretty cool place to eat, shop, dine and drinks with friends. Anyone interested in winning prizes play carnival games and eat at the stands. Stuff your face and have fun.

Definitely a feast for the senses! Expect lots of people, tons of vendors, slightly overpriced food, but a great time!
I went with three friends and we would get a little at each booth and share — that way we were able to try a bit of everything and the prices came out pretty reasonably!
There are lots of piña colada places that offer unlimited refills at various stations throughout the street– the drinks are really watered down and sugary but a decently fun experience!
Overall, there’s just a lot of energy and definitely worth a visit!