Did you know the story of San Gennaro originated in Naples, Italy? Starting in the late 1880s many Neopolitan Italian immigrants settled in lower Manhattan, on Mulberry Street, the heart of Little Italy. By the year 1926, they decided to celebrate their heritage in honor of their favorite Saint. 2025 marks the 99th year of celebration of San Gennaro who famously protects Neopolitans from fire, earthquakes, droughts, plagues and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. San Gennaro is a truly powerful champion for the people. However, this eleven day festival is all about the food and fun. So, Let's eat! Mangia! **Runs September 11th through 21st ** **It's Free! - But do bring plenty of CA$H money for food** * ** Some say it's claustrophobic and an overpriced tourist trap** ***Weekdays are bit less crowded *** You're welcome Grazie mille!! XO read more

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If you're lucky enough to be reading this on a slow Friday at work, your next destination should be Reddit, where you can enjoy "it's fake Disneyland for tourists" comments followed by counterattacks about those smug and simplistic critiques. I don't love it but I usually try to go at least twice. I liked the hot sausage at Johnny Fasullo's with a hot pepper on top. If you're into carbs try a potato croquette and rice ball combo at Caffe Napoli. I wasn't as impressed with the Ferrara cannoli this year but maybe I'm wrong. If possible, go on a weekday, but the crowds will always be abundant. read more

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If you're heading to the San Gennaro Fest in Little Italy, do yourself a favor and stop at Chickie's for the sausage and peppers. Absolute game changer. I've been to my fair share of street festivals, but Chickie's knows how to do it right juicy sausage with that perfect snap, loaded into a fresh roll, piled high with sweet peppers and onions that melt in your mouth. The flavors hit you immediately: smoky, savory, with just the right kick of spice. It's one of those sandwiches you take a bite of and instantly know you're in for something special. The line might be long, but trust me it's part of the experience and worth every minute. Walking down Mulberry with a Chickie's sausage and peppers in hand just feels like San Gennaro. Pro tip: grab some napkins, because it's messy in the best way possible. read more

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The San Gennaro Festival stretches across Mulberry St. in lower Manhattan. It kicked off on Sept. 11th and continues the next 11 days. The food was great. So was the variety. I have baked clams from Umberto's Clam Bar. Pork Braciole, Rice Balls from Lucy's and an Aperol Spritz. The vendors were nice. So were the people in the crowd. I've been going to the feast since I was a little kid. This was the 100th anniversary of the festival. It was bigger and better than ever. I had a wonderful time. read more

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My review is from 9/12/25 The 2025 Feast of San Gennaro was an absolute masterpiece of food, culture, and community spirit. It's a joyful, must-do experience that perfectly captures the heart of Little Italy. From the moment you hit Mulberry Street, the air is thick with the mouthwatering aromas of sausage and peppers, fried dough, and simmering sauces. The vendors served up delicious classics that were well worth the wait. My personal favorites includes fried rice ball from Lucy's and a show-stopping pasta from the giant Parmesan wheel. And of course, no trip is complete without a fresh, creamy cannoli from Ferrara's bakery. Beyond the incredible food, the atmosphere was electric. Live Italian music, the joyful grand ferris wheel is a reminder to not forget this yearly celebration, and the lively crowds all contributed to a celebratory energy that was simply infectious. It's a festival where everyone feels a little bit Italian. This year's celebration felt bigger and better than ever. If you're looking for a genuinely fun and memorable New York experience, this is it. Come hungry, bring cash, and prepare to have an unforgettable time. These are the Italian treats I enjoy: Arancini: deep fried rice balls. Parmagiana: Sandwiches featuring meatballs, chicken, or eggplants covered in parmigiana sauce, and lasagna. The deserts that are really delicious are Zeppole's which are Deep-fried dough balls, a classic carnival treat originating from Italy's Campania region. Cannoli's fried pastry shell filled with sweet ricotta cream. Torrone is a traditional nougat candy. Italian cookies, and pastries including biscotti, and rainbow cookies from vendors like Ferrara bakery. Tip: Do not expect plant based sausage, or vegan food. When I do will update. read more

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Personally been going over a decade and it never gets old to me a tradition of enjoying local businesses eateries supporting the local economy, buying trinkets food palm readings if you'd like and enjoying what little Italy has to offer Parking is tricky. Best pay for a lot and you should do research what's the latest and greatest thing you can get I specifically did enjoy as always my stuffed clams. Your Pepe pasta was good too, and let's see what next year has to offer because I can't wait. read more

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Pro Tips- The best food here by a mile is at Lucy's (for braciole) and Ferrara's (for desserts and very specifically their nougat) with my personal other favorite Italian dessert shop during the festival being La Bella Ferrara. There's also some restaurants though most are pretty bad. Also, go earlier in the evening as it won't be as crowded. Anyway, this is a long running festival (this is the 99th anniversary) which I rarely go to. I used to be nearby commonly as I went through Chinatown frequently to go across the bridge back home but I avoided these streets like the plague for obvious reasons especially on the weekend. There's a better less touristy festival held a bit earlier on Arthur Avenue but most travelers will of course not go there. Average is pretty accurate. It's tourist fun but hey, at least it's not Time's Square read more

Came to this fair on 9/19/2025 for the first time. I arrived before sunset (around 3pm/4pm) and it was still relatively crowded. There are lots of vendors but many of them are selling the similar items (pasta, cannoli, fried Steps, etc.). There are many people walking up and down the street in good spirits. There's even vendors selling alcohol as well. I wasn't fond of the random guys with large snakes in the middle of the street. You can enjoy an Italian man singing songs in front of a Pizzeria. Overall, not bad for my first time there, I'm anticipating to have a better time next year. read more

The Feast of San Gennaro held traditionally every September in Lower East Side New York City, attracts about one million people every year. It's a great celebration of the rich Italian food and culture. The food is outstanding but the lines are stifling. Over a hundred vendors , restaurants, and side walk cafes are serving authentic pasta, sausage and peppers, baked clams, zeppoles, cannolis, and gelato. There is also a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. It's tight out there! It is packed with tourists and extremely hard to move freely down Mulberry Street. I suggest you attend a week night because the traditional narrow Streets of Little Italy makes it extremely difficult to move around with one million people in attendance. Four stars because it is hard to move around, you are shoulder to shoulder on Mulberry Street, but It is worth the trip for the cultural experience. read more

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San Gennaro Feast is an event I look forward to every year. Last year was the one year I missed it because I didn't feel well during most of September. I certainly made up for it today September 12, 2024. If you're not into Italian food there's plenty of other options. I always get my Traditional Cannoli at La Bella Ferrara and eat it before I walk through the feast on Mulberry Street. If you plan to visit Manhattan I recommend you visit Little Italy during the feast. This year it is September 12 through the 22. Bring your appetite! read more

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It's been over a decade since I've been to the feast. I would go in my early 20s with my group of girlfriends and we'd try to eat everything in sight. We'd stop at every stall to grab food; stopping for orders of fried calamari, pizza, rice, balls, and everything else in between. I remember going just to go and not really enjoying what the feast actually was. The food used to be mediocre at most and we would just look forward to parking at one of the Italian restaurants in Little Italy, having a feast of our own. FastFast forward to my late 30s where now this feast takes on a whole new meaning. Where going by myself to the San Gennaro Feast has given me a whole new experience. Recent commitments brought me to the LES and given the timing I knew this was the perfect opportunity to go to a feast. I knew it would also be the perfect time to go because on a Tuesday in the afternoon it wouldn't be as crazy crowded as it can get. And as crowded as it was, I know it could be 10 times worse, but I was able to navigate pretty easily. Now something that struck me was the quality of the food and vendors that were at the feast. Everything I had was outrageous. Starting with the slice of pizza with burrata, prosciutto and arugula which was one of the best places I've had in a long time. Pasta made in the cheese wheel was everything you could ask for and more, while my Sicilian rice ball was hearty. And to top it all off the two mini cannolis. I got one strawberry one pistachio and we ended the night on a sweet note. Overall, I think the food, the vendors, and overall the vibe of the feast has actually only gotten better over the years. This warms my heart looking forward to going next year. read more

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I can't begin to comprehend how it's possible to sell "rice balls with ragù" and call them arancini when it's just an overcooked ball of rice that has been split open and some bad ragù thrown on top. And to sell them for $10 each? Bad. Most of the foods you'll find at the San Gennaro feast are not prepared the way we would in Italy, but fear not, they grill meat the way we would! This sandwich (in the picture) was so good I miss it already. Try sandwiches with meat, salsiccia (Italian sausage), or something else. You'll love them! And then visit the gelato stand of Figo, they have natural flavored gelatos and pretty great desserts. Stop the fried Oreo crap read more

San Gennaro Feast - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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Great Festival! Celebrated the publication of https://www.heywhosbetterthanyou.com/ a book I authored at the great LaMela Ristorante 167 Mulberry Street. Great food, great atmosphere! Everyone celebrates the Italian culture. If you are anywhere near NYC make sure you get there as it extends from Sept. 12-22. read more

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Haven't been here in ages... Came here opening day and yes crowded as always. Come here early to avoid the crowds. The feast has grown to several blocks. Easy to get here by train...and walk. Traffic and parking around the area is not the easiest. Lots to see and do. Note: Some of the vendors are cash only and others will take credit cards. Bring cash with you... to check it out. Must walk around for comparing prices..zeppoles $5 for 6 at some vendors. Prices have gone up over the years... Play the 'carnival' like games and win a prize... or spending your money elsewhere... but have fun, eat, drink and shop. And stay safe! read more

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The San Gennaro Feast & Festival is an annual and beloved New York tradition. A procession with a priest blesses all the stalls on the first day. Located on Mulberry Street in SoHo there are many booths selling Italian fare and interspersed with street fair stalls. The rich aroma of sausage and peppers frying is heady. Zeppole, pastas and drinks are all here. Rubirosa has an outdoor seating with their memorable pizzas and wine for customers. This festival lasts from September 11th through the 21st. I came here today on a weekday as it gets very crowded over the weekend. Games for kids are also part of the show. Prices have risen as expected. read more

Had a goog rime here being my first time. Saw alot of places I wanted to eat from but didn't. It's a must go to when it comes around read more

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I have been coming here since I was a kid. I actually look forward to come here every year. It has not changed so much over the years just more food vendors. They used to offer glass souvenir cups for drinks but now they only offer plastic souvenir cups. I remember coming at night with a very large group of my friends to enjoy the festival being in a tight crowd where you can barely move and there were so many different types of people here which can get very annoying. As I got older, big crowds do not impress me anymore. Now, lol I go during the week in the daytime when it is not crowded at all. I find it more enjoyable in a different way. I am able to look at all of the vendors and what they have to offer without being pushed around, and buy food without waiting on line. I feel that the food trends do affect some of the food options offered at this festival. Last couple of years they offered fried calzones. This year I noticed the pasta in the parmesan wheel. Prices for this pasta can start at $28-$18 for me that is crazy. It is just pasta thrown in a large parmesan wheel with black pepper, extra parmesan and some pasta water. I ask myself where do they store this wheel of cheese afterwards. It was just not for me. Do not get me wrong they still offer plenty of the basic Italian food, sausage peppers with onions sandwiches, raw clams, fried calamari, baked clams, pizza plus a whole lot more. This year I came here for the deserts the cannoli-filled cronuts were one of my favorites. It is always a fun time to come here in September to me just reminds me that fall is close behind. read more

So many vendors, so many different options to choose from. Extremely packed and most stands have long lines. Bring cash as most signs we saw didn't accept cards and or added fees for using cards. There were carnival style games to play also. Most restaurants were open and trying to get business as you walk by. read more

I've attended the San Gennaro Feast for a few years now, and it gets more crowded each time! It's a decent way to spend a few hours in the city, but some downsides exist. The festival stretches from Prince to Canal and spills into side streets, with plenty of Italian restaurants (with long waits) and stands selling a ton of food--cannolis, pizza, sausage, fried Oreos, and more. While the food tastes great, you're overpriced for what you're getting. There are also a lot of random vendors mixed in, selling everything from Mexican to Jamaican, which feels a little out of place for the theme. The festival atmosphere is fun, especially with the live Italian music, which adds a great touch. Overall, it's one of the better festivals in the area, but be prepared to spend more than you'd expect. read more

A summer treat! A host of italian street food vendors, delivering favs such as sausage and peppers, shish kebabs., zeppoles. Pastries. Gelato. Italian baked goods! My fav were the cheese wheel pasta and they even have tanghulu! Gets very crowded on the weekend but you can also dine at any of the exquisite restaurants along the street. Fun for families, foodies, friends! read more

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I was trying to take a picture of the Lucy's Sausage lighted sign with the arrow. This man who works at Zia Maria came up to me and yelled at me for no reason. He yelled at me saying " THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO TAKE PICTURES ! NOW LEAVE ! GO ! " He was so nasty , rude and condescending. This was the worse experience at San Gennaro Feast . I would give negative stars if there was a choice. read more

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No bathrooms to use. Too crowded to enjoy. Everything is over priced!! NO BATHROOMS NO BATHROOMS!!!!!!!¡!!!!! read more

The Best Tasty Treats from Little Italy's San Gennaro Festival (99th year running)-Been attending this festival for years!...Original Vincent's fried calamari & linguini-(Hester & Mott)/ Johnny Fasullo's hot sausage & bracciole grilled over charcoal...no greasy griddle (Grand & Mulberry)...onions & peppers with Italian rolls...they deconstruct the sandwiches so I can transport home/Danny's on the Corner (Mulberry & Grand) fried zeppoles with powdered sugar/ & finally...Caffe Roma cannolis-(Broome & Mulberry)...what a workout running around a crowded Little Italy procuring food! Well worth it! read more

San Gennaro Feast - San Gennaro Festival Foods - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

So..so...crowded. And around the end of the practice of pandemic safety, this was a lot to deal with. The food is pretty much the same on every other block. Pizza, sausage, gelato, pasta, street-seated restaurant where passersby are uncomfortably close to your table. I went years ago and it was nice, but this 2022 was insane. It takes like 45 minutes to walk 8 blocks. Bumper to bumper foot traffic and the strollers...why so many strollers? I only ended up ordering a pizza. Something about ordering a spaghetti and walking with it while 4 guys yell "KYLE! WHERE YOU AT MAN?!" over your food just didn't sit right in my soul. read more

I have been coming to this event for the past couple of years and always look forward to it. My favorite is shopping for jewelry and just checking out all the vendors. I always need to buy my sausage and peppers sandwich and natural lemonade. For dessert, the fried Oreos is a must. This year I sat down and actually enjoyed their live music which was a lovely way to end the night. This event is always crowded, regardless of the day of the week you go. So those crowds are a little annoying to navigate through but there is high security so that's good. Can't wait for next year's event ! read more

I had been dying to come to San Gennaro Fest since I moved to this country and never had the chance... Finally visited it on Friday 09/23/22, on their final weekend. It was definitely fun, I think everyone must come at least once. Food was very good, mostly!! Prices were not too crazy, considering this is a feast and there's usually a price increase. But the crowd was insane!!!! I was shocked by the amount of people that gathered here, but never felt unsafe or in danger. Everyone was there to have a great time purely and I loved that!! We had steak sandwiches, empanadas, arepas, tried the famous cheese pasta, many many fried oreos from different places, tiramisu, almond biscotti and chocolate almond biscotti. It was definitely worth trying all the food we could stuff and spent less than we planned, which was the cherry on top!! I don't think I'll be coming a second time, who knowsss, but as far as I think once is just enough, lol, but was definitely worth it!!! read more

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This is one of the 70 must do list for fall in NYC. This festival runs 10 days starting the second week of September and takes over Little Italy, becoming one giant fair with games, ferris wheel and of course italian food like zeppoles, cannolis, pizza... Of course like all fairs it is crowded and overpriced but it's a nice experience to see the Italian community come together with a very NYC backdrop. It is safe with NYPD sprinkled throughout read more

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One of the best festivals in NYC! Soo much great Italian food and other foods as well! All the restaurants are always hopping in the area for this awesome week and It is what gets me down to Little Italy! They have cannoli eating contests, special musicians, and a band/ parade that marches through the festival. Brings a lot of fun and joy to this already awesome festival atmosphere! I always will get rice balls and cannolis while I am here. They have many different booths set up, carnival rides and games for kids too! Can't wait to check out 2022 Feast! The only reason I gave it four stars is because I don't like crowds much and it does get VERY packed especially if weather is nice. Don't get me wrong it is great to see soo many people enjoying what Little Italy has to offer. This is just my own oppionion. read more

San Gennaro Feast - Fun Coconut Drinks! - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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It's almost back to San Gennaro normal. Crowded, noisy, aromas of sausage and peppers and other street foods in the air. Games of skill?, souvenirs, bands marching down Mulberry St. The crowds are back, but not shoulder to shoulder. There's another phrase, not suitable for a family post. Although now there's a Mexican restaurant about where the old Il Palazzio restaurant stood. It's pretty much the same. read more

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You WILL come away from this event having had a sausage, cannoli, or gelato. I guarantee it. Visited the Feast of San Gennaro twice so far; once pre-pandemic, once post. This festival's been around for longer than most of us have been alive. I can definitely appreciate the time and effort it takes to put such a massive tribute to Italian heritage like this together year after year for 10 days at a time. Having said that, there is definitely room for improvement. Coming in 2022, there seems to be less variety in the vendors than in years past. The food is OK (overpriced, obviously), but it did feel like every other vendor was a cannoli stand. And there were definitely fewer stands selling goods than before. And even the goods on sale, basically just generic trinkets you could find on Canal St. and so many other places in the city. There's rides and eating contests too, but my girlfriend and I are a little too old, and squeamish, for those. I can't not mention the worst part of The Feast of San Gennaro, which is by far the crowds. If you get here at 11, you have about 60 minutes to roam until the place becomes bumper-to-bumper. People move too slow through these narrow streets, made even narrower by the overly-aggressive restaurateurs setting up outdoor seating smack on top of the foot traffic, barking for customers. After about 90 minutes, the crowds plus the heat became unbearable and I had to find an open space to catch my breath. Bring the fam, bring the kids, bring at least $35 cash per person (very few vendors take cards or e-payments). It's a fun atmosphere and a decent time, just be prepared to clear your schedule for more than one day if you truly want to see everything. read more

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I only started attending New York City's San Gennaro Festival as an adult so I'm experiencing it without the sentimental childhood memories attached to it that I assume local attendees have. Like most cultural celebrations, this one revolves around food & more food. The last time we attended, we walked about five blocks & it seemed most vendors sold some variation of the same things: cannolis, pizza (we skipped this & instead had some a few blocks over after we had left the festival), sausage & peppers, spiral potato on a stick thingy, etc. Although it was fun to indulge in rainbow cookies, fried Oreos, & zeppole with an overload of powdered sugar, there was nothing spectacular about the sweets we tried. The festival turns Little Italy into a lively, loud, crowded street party with vendors & live music for 10 days each September. Also, check out the neighborhood's surrounding shops & restaurants while you're there, why don't cha? read more

Wonderful Italian community festival! Pasta, pasta, pasta and more! Music up to par! Great atmosphere! Campari anyone!? Wonderful Italian community festival! Pasta, pasta, pasta and more! Music up to par! Great atmosphere! Campari anyone!? read more

San Gennaro Feast - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

Great festival that we always look forward to attending. We went last night taking the train in from Jersey and when we arrived we walked around and checked out the vendors. Tons of food.... Plenty of zeppole, sausage and peppers, cannoli, pizza, and pasta. The list goes on and on... We decided to have dinner at Paesanos which was great. Some Osso Buco, and Rigatoni Vodka. Both were tasty. They also had carnival games and a Ferris wheel. They also had vendors selling jewelry, handbags, and wallets and a stand that was selling freshly rolled cigars. So that was our evening, another great night at San Genaro. read more

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So I popped out for the San Gennaro feast this weekend in little Italy, and although I had a great time, it wasn't as fun as previous years. I know we're still recovering from a pandemic so I won't fault them too much but then vendors were repetitive and a bit uninteresting this year. All the pasta dishes were not impressive and I ended up going to an actual restaurant to eat. I've actually been to several countries in Europe, Italy being one and I was disappointed in the quality of the food. The meatballs didn't taste homemade, they tasted like the frozen kind that you heat up. The stuffed clams used artificial crab & lobster meat and the stuffed shells tasted as if they used cheap ricotta cheese. You can't go wrong with a good sausage and peppers but even that was a bit lackluster. If you're worried about the the current situation dealing with covid, I would highly suggest not to go. It was so crowded that it took me almost 40 minutes to walk to the end of the block. Nobody was wearing masks not even the vendors cooking the food. The weekend is always crowded, but if you do decide to go, I would recommend going during the week day preferably early. I did end up finding some good eats so I'm not completely disappointed, but this year seemed to lack any authencity and everything was super overpriced. It was $15 for a sausage and pepper sandwich, and $15 for a non alcoholic beverage. The prices are super disgusting and more than likely, I probably will never attend again unless It's to eat at a restaurant. The quality of the food wasn't worth the money I spent. IG:@Soooomuchfun read more

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Although i'm no Italian i make it a point to drop by Little Italy for the San Gennaro Festival. Since it's held in the beginning of fall its perfect sweather weather to walk around Mulberry Street. The atmosphere is festive, the smell of Italian food fills the air. It could get very crowded especially in the weekends so i make a point to come weekdays, before the lunch crowd comes. San Gennaro festival will always be in my NYC fall to do list. Nice time to walk around Little Italy, grab a cup of coffee, have a taste of canolli & just enjoy Autumn in New york vibes. read more

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We ran into this huge festival by accident while in town exploring. We were in Chinatown and hit a corner and bam! So many people! You cannot event get to the booths. It was very overwhelming! Lots of choices if you can reach them. We found out what a big deal it was when we watched it on the news. read more

San Gennaro Feast - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

It was crowded with people everywhere but we had a great time. Most vendors take only cash but there are some ones that take cards, Zelle and Venmo. Most rides don't have a long wait except for the Ferris Wheel. Where the sausages are some will be a long wait. Good food, good people, good service, and good vibes. Money well spent! read more

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Most of the vendors are overpriced and mediocre, however I tried GiGi's today and it was outstanding. The sausage and peppers are great but the highlight is the bracciole. Definitely worth trying if you check out the festival. read more

I've been coming to this festival for years and it never disappoints. This year due to COVID, I came early when there were less people and was able to browse and pick up my food and dessert and head home. Most years, I am usually with a friend, walking around waiting on long lines for the Italian sausages and/or dessert and eating on the sidewalk. LOL Prices for food are reasonable and its definitely something you should experience at least once. The restaurants are open if you want to sit and enjoy some Italian grub. I wasn't able to get my gelato since I wasn't eating on site. Definitely check this festival out and come on an empty stomach to taste a little bit of this and that from each vendor. read more

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I came here from Long Island to enjoy the famous San Gennaro Italian Feast in NYC. I came on a Monday because I was hoping it was less crowded than the weekends. Mulberry St is very tight with many street vendors which causes the crowds. When you first walk on Mulberry St I was in awe with the lights and the little Italian sayings above my head. They sold everything from cannoli's, sausage and peppers, meatballs, fried oreos, gelato, pasta and more. They had many vendors and a lot of the vendors repeat but they have different prices. So feel free to check out the different vendors prices for the best deal. The issue is there really isnt any place to sit and eat. So many people were standing and eating or on a ledge which caused a lot of traffic as well. That is just the NYC way! They had live performers singing and carnival rides which made the event more festive. I would return to this festival just make sure to go during the week because the weekends are so crowded. read more