The start of the San Gennaro Festival

The festively decorated red, green and white flowered arches on Mulberry Street mean only one thing - that it's time for an Italian feast. The 75th Annual Feast of San Gennaro, cancelled last year for the first time since its inception in 1926, has returned to Little Italy and is taking place now through Sunday, September 22.

The feast kicked off on Thursday with the First Annual Cannoli Eating Contest, where competitive eaters - as well as local challengers - vied for the title of "World's Champion Cannoli Eater." The winner, Ed "Cookie" Jarvis, managed to eat 21 cannoli in six minutes. Along with his other competitive eating titles, which run the gamut from french fries to ice cream, Jarvis said his Italian roots, along with a few cups of coffee, helped to made him hungry for the cannoli title. "I wanted the title last year, but couldn't compete because the feast had been cancelled," said Jarvis. "I wanted it even worse this year."  

Jarvis believes that the introduction of the contest, sponsored by Café Palermo in Little Italy, shows New York's resolve to rebuild following the terrorist attacks. "This contest shows the strength of the City," said Jarvis, who hails from Nesconset, Long Island. "Now it's back and better than ever." 

The contest drew quite a large crowd of onlookers, who later filled the streets of Little Italy, sampling food and viewing the various items for sale. At this year's feast, more than 300 licensed vendors are selling a variety of international foods, as well as Little Italy souvenirs, clothing, leather goods, videos, DVDs and CDs.  The feast features numerous fun activities for children, including carnival rides and arcade games.

Vendors are happy that the feast has returned to Little Italy. "It's definitely a good thing for New York," said Anna Cutillo, working at a booth selling Italian music. "It shows that people have to go on." Robert Brandon, who manned the Italian Food Center stand, said, "It's bringing the community together. I think it will help out Lower Manhattan."

During the feast, many local restaurants and cafes serve meals outside, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy al fresco dining at a number of the area's eateries.  Rock bands and folk singers will perform live from two outdoor bandstands.  In addition, WCBS-FM (101.1) will broadcast live from the feast on the evenings of Saturday, September 14, and Wednesday, September 18.

The Feast of San Gennaro is an annual celebration of Saint Gennaro, the Patron Saint of Naples, who was martyred in 305 A.D.  New York City's first feast took place on September 19, 1926, when newly arrived immigrants from Naples settled along Mulberry Street, and decided to continue the celebration that began in Italy years before.

This year there will be three religious processions, each featuring the Statue of San Gennaro.  The processions begin on Mulberry Street between Canal and Bayard Streets (one block south of Canal Street). Event organizers are expecting more than one million people to visit the festival during its 11-day run.

Little Italy suffered economically for months immediately following September 11 because of a sharp drop in tourism and numerous street closures, which limited access to the area.   Event vendors and organizers also lost money, as preparations for the 2001 event were well under way when the terrorist attacks occurred.

This year's activities are centered on Mulberry Street between Canal and East Houston streets, and along Hester and Grand Streets between Baxter and Mott Streets. The feast operates daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. weekdays, and from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Figli di San Gennaro (Children of San Gennaro), a not-for-profit community organization that has produced and operated the feast since 1996, distributes revenue from the feast to children, parochial schools, the elderly, the needy and parishes of the Archdiocese of New York.  During the five years it has operated the feast, Figli di San Gennaro has donated more than $1 million to schools and local charities.

For more information, call (212) 768-9320 or visit http://www.sangennaro.org.