Directory of Italian Festivals in the United States

Directory of Italian Festivals in the United States

Stay tuned for the updated directory! 

This directory is updated annually, but please be advised that there may be slight discrepancies due to the availability of updated information provided. The directory supplies each festival’s name, month, city, state, and website.

To view a printable full copy of a previous directory, Click Here.

This directory lists over 200 Italian festivals held in states around the country. The custom of honoring favorite saints with outdoor ceremonies was brought to America more than 100 years ago by the early Italian immigrants. The festivals vary in size and character. Some consist of only the saint’s statue, a band and a procession while others are colossal celebrations that last several days and include symphonic bands, entertainers, food stands, rides and fireworks. A familiar sight at most festivals is the saint’s statue covered with money or jewelry, later donated to the local church or saint’s society.

The oldest festival is believed to be the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hammonton, NJ. The biggest festival is the Feast of San Gennaro held every September in New York City, which attracts about one million people. Large festivals can also be found in West Virginia (Wheeling’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival in July and Clarksburg’s Italian Heritage Festival in September) and in Wisconsin (Milwaukee’s Festa Italiana in July), among others.