Feast of St. Anthony at Boston’s North End – August 28-30, 2009

Sometimes the events, destinations and general travel topics seem to pile in by the mountain-load, and I don’t just mix metaphors for the heck of it. Most of the time we do pretty well, but the occasional piece does slip through even my skilled, Guitar Hero-trained fingers. Forgive us for the late notice on this one.

If you live in the Boston area, or don’t mind the trip in, you can expect to send out the summer in splendid style at the Feast of St. Anthony at Boston’s North End. I mean, it’s right there in the name. How can you go wrong with a feast?

The Feast of St. Anthony has been a Boston tradition since 1919, and it’s based on an Italian tradition going back much further. In the fashion of the Old Country, the Feast is a celebration dedicated to a single Saint that includes a parade, dancing, music, performance, games and, you guessed it, loads and loads of incredible food. Nat Geo even named it the “Feast of all Feasts”.

I’m sure you’ve got it figured out by now, but for you folks still working through a case of the Mondays, here’s the deal: the feast takes over the North End of Boston with three full days of activities supported by non-stop chow opportunities. The Filippo Berio Culinary Pavilion is open all day every day and features local Italian chefs dishing up their best and hosting spirited cooking demonstrations.

Also on the food bill you’ll find the Regina Pizzeria Beer and Pizza Piazza and the Cirelli marketplace bustling with Italian specialties. North End Iron Chef is a wild culinary showdown in the style of the popular television show. Catch either the Saturday or Sunday competition.

The feature event of the Feast of St. Anthony is Sunday afternoons Grand Procession, when the statue of the Saint is carried through the streets accompanied by bands, color guard, drum corps, streamers and thousands of screaming on-lookers. The Procession lasts for a staggering ten hours ending in a sensational grand finale on Endicott Street.

All this plus music, dancing and even more food. View the full schedule here (scroll down).

The Feast of St. Anthony will be held August 28-30, 2009 in North End Boston. The festival is free to attend though concessions and some events/games will cost you. Learn more here.

One of the organizer-recommended hotels is also one of our favorites: the Holiday Inn Boston at Beacon Hill. This Boston hotel is located near the North End, so it’s a quick trip to the festival, and with a truckload of packages to choose from, you can always get a great deal. If you’re traveling in last minute for a great time at the feast, this is the place.

Have fun at the Feast of St. Anthony!

Related Posts

1. Boston Harborfest 2009
2. Chicago Air & Water Show 2009 – August 15-16
3. First Night Boston 2010 – Holiday Events in Boston, MA
4. Paw Jam 2009 – Pet-Friendly Event in North Carolina
5. Spring Break 2009 Beach Destinations – North Carolina
6. Boston Freedom Trail – Walking Tours of Boston
7. Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, MA