Over six hundred years ago, in 1399, a street festival took place in the small Adriatic town of Molfetta, Italy. On Sept. 9, a variation of this Italian tradition will continue for its 84th year on the waterfront of the Hudson River in Sinatra Park in Hoboken.
The Annual Hoboken Italian Festival is one of the largest Italian festivals on the east coast, and has now been organized through four generations of Hoboken Italians, according to Greg Gallo, a member of the Society Madonna dei Martiri, which produces the event.
The four day event will kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 9, and finish on Sunday, Sept. 12. The festival is open on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 from 5 to 11 p.m and on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 from noon to 11 p.m. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.
On Thursday, a central New Jersey cover band, Garden State Radio, will perform from 5 to 7 p.m. From 7 to 10 p.m., the band Johnny Drama will perform. The annual pizza-eating contest begins at 8:30 p.m., followed by a live DJ from 10 to 11 p.m.
‘The 84th Annual Hoboken Italian Festival is one of the largest Italian festivals on the east coast, and has now been organized through four generations of Hoboken Italians.’ – Greg Gallo
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Saturday morning will feature the procession of the Madonna Dei Martiri statue through the streets of Hoboken.
“A day-long procession through the streets of Hoboken includes a reenactment of the ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ in the Hudson River,” according to an event press release. “Since Molfetta is a coastal town, the tradition of traversing the river stems from honoring the Madonna by local fishermen.”
On Saturday from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m., Johnny Maggio will perform Italian standard songs, including tributes to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Eilo Scaccio, an operatic tenor, will perform from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m. Iliana Incandela, a rising pop and R&B artist will sing from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. the R3 brothers will perform and then at 7 p.m., Opera 3000 will perform until 11 p.m. If you crave Italian pastries, the Annual Cannoli Eating Contest will take place from 8:30 to 9 p.m.
The festival wraps up on Sunday with the bands Longtooth, Krystal (a Hoboken rock band), Chiclettes, and Jersey Sound performing throughout the day. At 7 p.m., the Annual Grape Stomping Contest begins, followed by the fireworks extravaganza from 9 to 9:25 p.m.
It was in 1999 that the event hit a turning point, according to the Hoboken Italian Festival website, when over 45,000 people flocked to the festival.
For additional information on the Hoboken Italian Festival, call (201) 216-0252 or visit the website at www.hobokenitalianfestival.com
Ray Smith can be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com.