September 22, 2006
The annual Feast of San Gennaro draws over 1 million people to NYC's Little Italy. This 11-day long festival is a salute to the Patron Saint of Naples, and includes parades, entertainment, food booths, carnival games, a celebratory Mass, and a cannoli-eating contest! I walked through on my lunch break one day, thankful I could enjoy the fair without the weekend crowd.
See how crowded it is, even on a weekday!
Beef spinning over the flame.
Chocolate covered marshmallows, strawberries, carmel apples, and other sweet treats.
No one was lining up for this fun activity.
Grilled corn, a street fair staple.
There were lots of booths selling funnel cakes, but I'd never heard of a Chimney Cake before!
Fresh chimney cakes
Chimney cakes coated in caramel and nuts.
Grilling sausages and onions.
Pizza pizza!
Mmm, cannoli! Matthew would be drooling.
Get your fried stuff here!
Italian pride for sale.
Funnel cakes, zeppolis and deep fried oreos. Can you say heart attack?
Coconut drinks with little umbrellas don't seem very Italian to me, but what do I know.
This nougat stuff has to be cut with a big knife and hammer!
John's Italian Sausage booth is very popular - there was a line around the corner!
In addition to sausages and braciole, this place also grills sweetbreads.
Everyone needs a little Mirror Magic in their life.
The ferris wheel, which I guess only works on weekends.
What's an Italian festival without gelato?
More sweet goodness, brought to you buy Ferrara, one of our favorite Italian bakeries.
Carnival games weren't so popular on Friday, but maybe they get more business on weekends.
You can win a giant, evil-looking Stewie.