The North End is one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in the country—so it makes pefect sense that its biggest annual attraction are the feasts. These are 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 2024 season closes out Labor Day weekend with the San Gennaro Feast, taking the Paul Revere Mall on Hanover Street from Friday, Aug. 30–Sunday, Sept. 1. The patron saint of Naples, Italy, is celebrated by the Saint Gennaro Foundation of Boston, founded by North End restaurateurs Frank DePasquale, Nick Varano, Angelo Vigliotta and Pasquale Trotta, along with the North End-founded Pastene brands. The festivities feature more than two dozen booths by local restaurants, free live music and DJs, celebrity emcees and more. The San Gennaro Feast winds down on Sunday with a procession of the saint followed by an outdoor mass (these are Catholic festivals, after all).
San Gennaro Feast Schedule
Friday, August 30
5pm- The Feast Opens to the public
6pm- Hot 96.9 Morning Show Host Melissa Eannuzzo welcomes guests
6:15pm- Vinyl Groove performs
8pm- Italian Connection performs
11pm- Feast closes for the night
Saturday, August 31
12pm- The Feast Opens to the Public
6pm- Kiss 108 Personality Gianna Gravalese introduces performers
6:15–7:15pm- Virgil the DJ
7:30–8:15pm- Canadian singer and disco great France Joli
8:30–10pm- The Midtown Men (Jersey Boys original cast)
11pm- The Feast closes for the night
Sunday, September 1
12pm- Outdoor Mass performed by the priests of Saint Stephens
1pm- Procession of San Gennaro
6pm- Kiss 108 Personality Gianna Gravelese presents Flutie Foundation with check
6:30–7:30pm- Virgil the DJ
8–9:30pm- Sal The Voice from America’s Got Talent
11pm- The feast concludes