Saint Anthony's Feast

The North End is one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in the country—so it makes perfect sense that its biggest annual attraction are the feasts. These are religious street fairs celebrating Italian American culture with food carts, carnival games, live music and parades, held each weekend in August to honor various saints. The largest feast, Saint Anthony’s, also celebrates Saint Lucy and is held annually the weekend of the last Sunday in August. Centered on Endicott, Thacher and North Margin streets in Boston’s North End, it features a 10-hour grand procession on Sunday, Aug. 25, among the highlights. Like at the other North End feasts, there’s free live music, raffles that support community endeavors, spritz and beer gardens and food vendors selling wood-fired pizza by the slice; subs with sausage, peppers and onions; raw bar; filled-to-order cannoli; arancini and more. Saint Anthony’s Feast also hosts a Stella Cheese Culinary Pavilion, where local chefs with demo and sample recipes throughout the weekend.