August 9, 2025 • 18 mins
Boston's North End is always the place to go for a filling meal and a warm welcome, but feast season is when the neighborhood truly shines! The Fisherman's Feast is the oldest continuously running Italian festival in the North End, and it returns this summer for its 115th year. From the ever-popular meatball contest to the iconic "Flight of the Angel", there will be plenty to enjoy and learn. Louis Strazzullo, Co-Chair of the Fisherman's Feast, talks with Nichole about the festival's deep roots to Sicily, the renowed traditions, and everything you can expect if you stop by August 14-18.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week right here, we come together and talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. It's great to have you back with us
this week. I'm Nicole Davis. No matter what time of
year it is, when you head to Boston's North End,
you're always going to find great food and lots of
welcoming people. It's a great place to be. Feast season, though,
(00:30):
is where the North End really shines. The season runs
from June through September, but really gets going now in August,
and when you go to one of these festivals, get
ready to experience so much. We're talking traditions carried on
through the generations from Italy, Lots of dancing, mouthwatering food
and drinks, and of course a lot of joy. One
of the biggest festivals of the season is the Fisherman's Feast,
(00:52):
which kicks off on the fourteenth. Louis Trezzulo, one of
the chairs of the Feast, is here with us now
to tell us all about it. Lewis, I'd love to
hear first about the history of this festival, because this
has been going on for quite some time.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Sure, So our festival started back in nineteen ten when
our ancestors came over from Chaka, Sicily, and just like
all other Italian immigrants that came over, they settled in
and they brought their traditions with them, in particular for
the fishermen. What they did was they brought not only
(01:26):
they their talent of fishing and helping build the fishing
industry in Boston, especially in Massachusetts, but also they brought
their tradition of honoring the Levanonna del So Corso d
Shaka and the reason why he is honored in Chaka,
(01:49):
she's the patroness of the town of Shaka, where she
performed many miracles and the fishermen would look to her
to help guide them on their journees when they go
out for fishing, when they go out fishing. So they
basically started the festival back in nineteen ten and it's
just been growing ever since. And it's it's built with
(02:13):
a lot of family and it's built with a lot
of tradition.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
With that, over the past few decades, I mean, what
modern traditions have you been able to infuse into the feast?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Well, so, I mean a lot of a lot of
the different traditions that built you know, would be you know,
the I would say, the increasing of the vendors and
in creing, changing, updating all our style of our of
the lights that decorate the streets. We also enhance you know,
(02:48):
our bandstand and our chapel, and and we also a
lot of the things that we did was you know,
our entertainment. We want to you know, make it bigger
for the neighborhood, the neighborhood, enjoy it more so, bring
in you know, different in the team. And every year,
you know, stuff like that that that we we would
(03:10):
we're known as the longest running festival in Boston and
the oldest and and we take great pride in that
on keeping get fresh and keeping the experience different, you know,
with with that every year.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And one thing I love about this feast in particular
is that the organizers, like you, are descendants of those
original immigrants all those years ago, more than a century ago.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I mean, it's it's always a great honor to carry
on the tradition and to keep something going that that's
that started so long ago. I mean it's one hundred
and fifteen years it's truly an honor and and you know,
for us myself, I was the president of society at
(03:59):
one point. But you know, I think about when I
was a kid and my father would bring me around,
you know, the parade and my grandfather and and then
I would get to know some of the members and
then they would slowly start showing me how to set
up the angel rigging and how and how to you know,
(04:19):
manage a festival. And then you grow into it like that,
and then now you look at it like I'm not
the young kid anymore. I'm now teaching another young generation.
So it's an honor and a privilege to carry on
a tradition like this.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
What is it like to put together such a huge
festival every year? I'm sure you pull on a lot
of your neighbors to help with that, but I mean
seeing the pictures and and you know, watching the videos
of the flight of the angel alone, not to mention
the meatball contest and everything else, I mean, that's a
lot of work.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, you should have a conversation with my wife about
that happen It is. It is a lot of work.
I mean, but it's you know, one thing that we
built is you know, we call we call it family.
You know, we built a committee, we built we have
a feast committee. We have a lot of members, you
(05:10):
know that that we we build a teamwork. You know,
we have everybody pitching in in all different directions, you know,
to help out all different categories because it's grown so
big that you know, two guys cannot do it. And
and it's a team effort. And it's great to have
so many people and so many different directions focusing on
(05:32):
different things so that it gets that that's why it
comes across so great. You know. That's why the festival
is so clean and and and work so smooth. You know.
I know we'll touch base later, but you know we'll
get into the angel and the meatbout contests and all that,
but it takes a lot of people and teamwork is
(05:54):
the way to go.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, for sure, Let's talk about the food, because no festival,
no event, really is any good if you don't have
good food. And you all have so much food to enjoy,
including the meatballs. I mean, these these are not little
meatballs we're talking about here. This is big stuff, correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
So one thing is that that we we our vendors,
we have over over fifty plus vendors you know at
our festival, and one thing that that we that that
we absolutely love is that it's not all the same
product that's being sold, it's different stuff. So you're kind
of getting a taste of Italian American culture all through
(06:37):
the festival. You know what, whatever you want to buy,
whether it's you know, Canolai's sausage, peppers and onions, Ravioli's macaroni,
all different things. We have one of our one of
our brand new sponsors and one of our headlining sponsors, Pastine,
who's been around for one hundred and fifty years. They're
coming to our festival where it all began on Fulton Street,
(06:59):
right right around the corner from our club, and they're
gonna be sampling all their products that they have, So
you're getting a real true taste of Battalian American culture
right there. Meatball contest we started a six years ago
and we have this great idea, let's do a friendly
competition between these restaurants who has the best meatball, and
(07:21):
it just took off. I mean, not only now is
it a friendly conversation and a friendly competition between the restaurants,
but everybody enjoys it. You know, that comes you're tasting
all these different metfolls and you're you're part of the competition.
Now you're actually you know, judging who you think is
(07:44):
the best.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What I really appreciate as well with the cooking stage
is that not only are you watching this great food
get made, you're you know, smelling it and possibly tasting it,
but you're learning something yourself as well, so you can
go home and cook up some delicacies in your own kitchen.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Correct. And what we're doing different this year is a
lot of that is going to be taking place at
the Pristine Tent, where we're going to be having one
of our members who's a fabulous chef. He's going to
be using a lot of Pistine's products beyond concasage products,
and he's going to be displaying and educating people on
(08:22):
the way you make Sunday gravy and the way you
could incorporate pasta and all these different things. So a
lot of that's going to be taken in place at
a Pristine Tent on North Street. So that's going to
be a real fun experience right.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
There, Okay. And then of course the pinnacle of the
whole thing. I mean, the food is a pretty close second,
don't get me wrong. But Flight of the Angel, this
is such an elaborate demonstration and it plays out in
a very specific way each and every year. Tell me
about what this is all about and why this is
so important to do.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
But a flight in the Angel has because it is
very it's something very special to the members and the
the daughters that take place in it, and it's become
a tradition within families on passing it down, you know,
through generations on on who's gonna be the angel like
(09:17):
our flying angel this year is I believe a fourth
generation angel. So that's gonna be that that's gonna be
an honor. My daughter is going to be actually one
of the side angels, Lucy, and that's that's a great
honor for me. This is the first time and to
actually have my daughter a part of it is is
(09:40):
is very special. But basically, if you go back and
you look at you know, the Flight of the Angel,
when you know all the black and white pitches till today,
it's a very special moment and everybody gets choked up,
you know, terry eyed, because basically it's it's three girls
they sing a prayer. It's us mother, about protecting us,
(10:02):
all helping us, all protecting the fishermen, protecting the maritime society.
And it's just something that's partaking. When you're there, and
it has grown over the years that you get there,
you want to be there, you know, eighty eight thirty
because the crowd just flows in. Everybody knows the Flight
(10:24):
of the Angel. It's part of history now, you know,
in the neighborhood. And it's also it was also part
of a national geographic But this is it's truly a
sight to scene. It's a can't miss experience.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, what's it like behind the scenes trying to make
sure that the Flight of the Angel goes perfectly? I mean,
I know your daughter's going to be there this year.
There's so many moving parts just to physically get this
girl flying over this huge audience. What's that like putting
it all together so first.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
With my daughter? I mean, it's it's nerve wracking because
my daughter, you know, making sure that she's practicing these
nose and hand motions and everything. But behind the scenes,
and this is one of the first things I did
when I was fourteen years old, I had a senior member,
come and take me and show me, you know, how
it's put together and everything. And I kind of taking
(11:16):
that to heart because I love helping putting putting it together.
And I'll be honest with you, it's like writing. It's
like riding a bike for everybody, because you know, we
know how it goes up. You know, we do a
bunch of test trials, a test runs. I think it's
been on the news plenty of times, you know, seeing
the angel do a test run and just getting all
(11:39):
the kids adjusted and ready to go. So we do
a full fledge, you know, a test trial, you know,
before the feet starts, you know, get everybody comfortable, make
sure everything's all oiled up. But it's a well oiled machine.
You know, we've been doing it for so many years
that it's it's just like you know, waking up in
(12:01):
the morning, grabbing your breakfast to that easy. But we
have a lot of patience with it, you know, And
and and we're honored that everybody truly embraces our tradition
and our heritage. And because it's a cultural event, we
like to educate everybody on what it is.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, I mean, it's a beautiful event. And it. I
just appreciate the history behind it and that this is
something that you can look back on and hold on
to as a memory of the past, but then bring
your kids into it and keep that generational knowledge going.
I mean, you don't find that much anymore.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
No, you don't. And that's that's another thing. You know,
on the Thursday. The Thursday is a very moving event
for everybody when when the Madonna comes out, you know,
she gets she comes out to someone singing the Ivy
and Maria and you know, before we even before we
even step foot, you know, we're honoring people that have
passed away, you know, throughout the year because it is
(12:58):
all family, you know, we the neighborhood is our family.
Members are our family, and we like to keep everybody
together and embrace, you know, what has gone through the years.
We go down to the Blessing of the waters. There's
no more fishing boats down there, but it's memories now.
We bring her down there to bless and remember all
(13:21):
the fishermen who passed away, you know who at sea.
So a lot of traditions we keep going because it's
what we built it on. And like I said, you know,
it's in honor to keep it going.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, well, then let's talk about the who, what, when, where, why?
So of course this is the Fisherman's Feast in Boston's
North End. We all know where that is. Tell us
a little bit about when people should show up, of
course for the big events, and what people should bring.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So a couple of things. So our festival is August
fourteenth through the seventeenth opening ceremonies on Thursday August fourteenth
at six thirty pm, that's when the opening ceremonies happen,
and we will we have a great performance a thirty
a night by an Italian American singer Biagio So's. It
(14:10):
will be a great performance Friday. Opening ceremonies at four
o'clock on Friday with the Connabali show, which is another
Sicilian tradition where we have some floats that go through
the streets with a bunch of Italian Sicilian dancers that
(14:30):
will put on a great performance. And then we have
a we have our main act of Booty Vortex, which
is a great disco group coming on in eight thirty.
Saturday is noontime. We have a children's procession followed by
the well we already talked about the Great Meatball Contest
with a bunch of Italian games as well. And then
(14:52):
we have a Billy, We have the Family Brats followed
by Billion the Jets, another great performance and then Sunday.
Sunday is a full day of fun and enjoyment. While
thirty the procession starts. You're gonna see multiple marching bands
going going throughout the streets, will have the reminiscence and
(15:13):
entertainment on stage, but throughout the whole Note that it's
just full of fun. Italian American ceremony. You know, everybody's
Italian that day. Everybody, everybody becomes Italian that day, you know,
and just it's just enjoying the sights and sounds. Just
a few security things that we have, you know, we
(15:34):
have that we have security checkpoints at every entrance. There
will be no backpacks or over gatina is allowed. And
we asked everybody you know that that who's under twenty
one to be you know, they that to be a
company buying adults, you know, just for safety precautions. But
you know, we have Boston Police. We thank the Boston
(15:55):
Police Department. Maya Woo's office, you know, for supporting us
and helping us, you know, this tradition going and North
North Street, Fleet Street and Lewis Street, that's where it
all takes place.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Okay, And then getting there on the tea is probably
the best option because I hate to say it, but
even on a good day, I cannot park in your
neighborhood easily, So the tea is probably the best way
to go.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Correct. So you've got access for the blue line at
Aquarium Station, North Station and Hey Market, those are three
great access points that you just get off and just
walk right into the North End and I'm sure you
won't be able to miss it. You could probably smell
your way all the way to the Fisherman's Fees because
it'll be a lot of a roam aor in the
(16:37):
air of good Italian food and it's going to be
a great festival to you know, everybody's gonna want to
be there, So I tell everybody you know, get there early,
you know, make sure that you're ready to enjoy the entertainment,
and then stop by this bless some other you know,
to say a prayer and and to enjoy that atmospher's reel.
(17:01):
You know, it's an Italian American religious festival. And we
like to balance it off that everybody can enjoy themselves
but also remember why we are there, which is an
honor of the blessing other.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Well, then if people want to find out more about
the history of the festival, if they want to get
directions on and so forth, where can they find that out.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Yeah, so they could go on our website www. Dot
Fisherman's Feast dot com. Okay, and they could go on
there and they could get all our information. Our poster
will be up there they so they could read through
it and it has directions on how to get there
as well. It has also our backstory, which I encourage
(17:41):
everybody to read about.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Oh it's wonderful. I just read it before I gave
you a call, and there's a lot in there, and
the photographs you've got up there, it's a really cool
look into the past.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Well, Lewis, I really appreciate your time. And there's so
much work that goes into this festival, but I hope
it goes off without a hitch and you have the
best time coming up here. Are in just about a
week and change.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, we're plugging away right now. We are putting, our
members are coming down, and we are definitely in the
process of decorating the streets, getting everything ready. And that's
what we can say is come on down and enjoy,
enjoy our history, enjoy our tradition.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join me again
next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole
Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week right here, we come together and talk about
all the topics important to you and the place where
you live. It's great to have you back with us
this week. I'm Nicole Davis. No matter what time of
year it is, when you head to Boston's North End,
you're always going to find great food and lots of
welcoming people. It's a great place to be. Feast season, though,
(00:30):
is where the North End really shines. The season runs
from June through September, but really gets going now in August,
and when you go to one of these festivals, get
ready to experience so much. We're talking traditions carried on
through the generations from Italy, Lots of dancing, mouthwatering food
and drinks, and of course a lot of joy. One
of the biggest festivals of the season is the Fisherman's Feast,
(00:52):
which kicks off on the fourteenth. Louis Trezzulo, one of
the chairs of the Feast, is here with us now
to tell us all about it. Lewis, I'd love to
hear first about the history of this festival, because this
has been going on for quite some time.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Sure, So our festival started back in nineteen ten when
our ancestors came over from Chaka, Sicily, and just like
all other Italian immigrants that came over, they settled in
and they brought their traditions with them, in particular for
the fishermen. What they did was they brought not only
(01:26):
they their talent of fishing and helping build the fishing
industry in Boston, especially in Massachusetts, but also they brought
their tradition of honoring the Levanonna del So Corso d
Shaka and the reason why he is honored in Chaka,
(01:49):
she's the patroness of the town of Shaka, where she
performed many miracles and the fishermen would look to her
to help guide them on their journees when they go
out for fishing, when they go out fishing. So they
basically started the festival back in nineteen ten and it's
just been growing ever since. And it's it's built with
(02:13):
a lot of family and it's built with a lot
of tradition.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
With that, over the past few decades, I mean, what
modern traditions have you been able to infuse into the feast?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Well, so, I mean a lot of a lot of
the different traditions that built you know, would be you know,
the I would say, the increasing of the vendors and
in creing, changing, updating all our style of our of
the lights that decorate the streets. We also enhance you know,
(02:48):
our bandstand and our chapel, and and we also a
lot of the things that we did was you know,
our entertainment. We want to you know, make it bigger
for the neighborhood, the neighborhood, enjoy it more so, bring
in you know, different in the team. And every year,
you know, stuff like that that that we we would
(03:10):
we're known as the longest running festival in Boston and
the oldest and and we take great pride in that
on keeping get fresh and keeping the experience different, you know,
with with that every year.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And one thing I love about this feast in particular
is that the organizers, like you, are descendants of those
original immigrants all those years ago, more than a century ago.
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I mean, it's it's always a great honor to carry
on the tradition and to keep something going that that's
that started so long ago. I mean it's one hundred
and fifteen years it's truly an honor and and you know,
for us myself, I was the president of society at
(03:59):
one point. But you know, I think about when I
was a kid and my father would bring me around,
you know, the parade and my grandfather and and then
I would get to know some of the members and
then they would slowly start showing me how to set
up the angel rigging and how and how to you know,
(04:19):
manage a festival. And then you grow into it like that,
and then now you look at it like I'm not
the young kid anymore. I'm now teaching another young generation.
So it's an honor and a privilege to carry on
a tradition like this.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
What is it like to put together such a huge
festival every year? I'm sure you pull on a lot
of your neighbors to help with that, but I mean
seeing the pictures and and you know, watching the videos
of the flight of the angel alone, not to mention
the meatball contest and everything else, I mean, that's a
lot of work.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, you should have a conversation with my wife about
that happen It is. It is a lot of work.
I mean, but it's you know, one thing that we
built is you know, we call we call it family.
You know, we built a committee, we built we have
a feast committee. We have a lot of members, you
(05:10):
know that that we we build a teamwork. You know,
we have everybody pitching in in all different directions, you know,
to help out all different categories because it's grown so
big that you know, two guys cannot do it. And
and it's a team effort. And it's great to have
so many people and so many different directions focusing on
(05:32):
different things so that it gets that that's why it
comes across so great. You know. That's why the festival
is so clean and and and work so smooth. You know.
I know we'll touch base later, but you know we'll
get into the angel and the meatbout contests and all that,
but it takes a lot of people and teamwork is
(05:54):
the way to go.
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Yeah, for sure, Let's talk about the food, because no festival,
no event, really is any good if you don't have
good food. And you all have so much food to enjoy,
including the meatballs. I mean, these these are not little
meatballs we're talking about here. This is big stuff, correct, correct.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
So one thing is that that we we our vendors,
we have over over fifty plus vendors you know at
our festival, and one thing that that we that that
we absolutely love is that it's not all the same
product that's being sold, it's different stuff. So you're kind
of getting a taste of Italian American culture all through
(06:37):
the festival. You know what, whatever you want to buy,
whether it's you know, Canolai's sausage, peppers and onions, Ravioli's macaroni,
all different things. We have one of our one of
our brand new sponsors and one of our headlining sponsors, Pastine,
who's been around for one hundred and fifty years. They're
coming to our festival where it all began on Fulton Street,
(06:59):
right right around the corner from our club, and they're
gonna be sampling all their products that they have, So
you're getting a real true taste of Battalian American culture
right there. Meatball contest we started a six years ago
and we have this great idea, let's do a friendly
competition between these restaurants who has the best meatball, and
(07:21):
it just took off. I mean, not only now is
it a friendly conversation and a friendly competition between the restaurants,
but everybody enjoys it. You know, that comes you're tasting
all these different metfolls and you're you're part of the competition.
Now you're actually you know, judging who you think is
(07:44):
the best.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
What I really appreciate as well with the cooking stage
is that not only are you watching this great food
get made, you're you know, smelling it and possibly tasting it,
but you're learning something yourself as well, so you can
go home and cook up some delicacies in your own kitchen.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Correct. And what we're doing different this year is a
lot of that is going to be taking place at
the Pristine Tent, where we're going to be having one
of our members who's a fabulous chef. He's going to
be using a lot of Pistine's products beyond concasage products,
and he's going to be displaying and educating people on
(08:22):
the way you make Sunday gravy and the way you
could incorporate pasta and all these different things. So a
lot of that's going to be taken in place at
a Pristine Tent on North Street. So that's going to
be a real fun experience right.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
There, Okay. And then of course the pinnacle of the
whole thing. I mean, the food is a pretty close second,
don't get me wrong. But Flight of the Angel, this
is such an elaborate demonstration and it plays out in
a very specific way each and every year. Tell me
about what this is all about and why this is
so important to do.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
But a flight in the Angel has because it is
very it's something very special to the members and the
the daughters that take place in it, and it's become
a tradition within families on passing it down, you know,
through generations on on who's gonna be the angel like
(09:17):
our flying angel this year is I believe a fourth
generation angel. So that's gonna be that that's gonna be
an honor. My daughter is going to be actually one
of the side angels, Lucy, and that's that's a great
honor for me. This is the first time and to
actually have my daughter a part of it is is
(09:40):
is very special. But basically, if you go back and
you look at you know, the Flight of the Angel,
when you know all the black and white pitches till today,
it's a very special moment and everybody gets choked up,
you know, terry eyed, because basically it's it's three girls
they sing a prayer. It's us mother, about protecting us,
(10:02):
all helping us, all protecting the fishermen, protecting the maritime society.
And it's just something that's partaking. When you're there, and
it has grown over the years that you get there,
you want to be there, you know, eighty eight thirty
because the crowd just flows in. Everybody knows the Flight
(10:24):
of the Angel. It's part of history now, you know,
in the neighborhood. And it's also it was also part
of a national geographic But this is it's truly a
sight to scene. It's a can't miss experience.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Yeah, what's it like behind the scenes trying to make
sure that the Flight of the Angel goes perfectly? I mean,
I know your daughter's going to be there this year.
There's so many moving parts just to physically get this
girl flying over this huge audience. What's that like putting
it all together so first.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
With my daughter? I mean, it's it's nerve wracking because
my daughter, you know, making sure that she's practicing these
nose and hand motions and everything. But behind the scenes,
and this is one of the first things I did
when I was fourteen years old, I had a senior member,
come and take me and show me, you know, how
it's put together and everything. And I kind of taking
(11:16):
that to heart because I love helping putting putting it together.
And I'll be honest with you, it's like writing. It's
like riding a bike for everybody, because you know, we
know how it goes up. You know, we do a
bunch of test trials, a test runs. I think it's
been on the news plenty of times, you know, seeing
the angel do a test run and just getting all
(11:39):
the kids adjusted and ready to go. So we do
a full fledge, you know, a test trial, you know,
before the feet starts, you know, get everybody comfortable, make
sure everything's all oiled up. But it's a well oiled machine.
You know, we've been doing it for so many years
that it's it's just like you know, waking up in
(12:01):
the morning, grabbing your breakfast to that easy. But we
have a lot of patience with it, you know, And
and and we're honored that everybody truly embraces our tradition
and our heritage. And because it's a cultural event, we
like to educate everybody on what it is.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, I mean, it's a beautiful event. And it. I
just appreciate the history behind it and that this is
something that you can look back on and hold on
to as a memory of the past, but then bring
your kids into it and keep that generational knowledge going.
I mean, you don't find that much anymore.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
No, you don't. And that's that's another thing. You know,
on the Thursday. The Thursday is a very moving event
for everybody when when the Madonna comes out, you know,
she gets she comes out to someone singing the Ivy
and Maria and you know, before we even before we
even step foot, you know, we're honoring people that have
passed away, you know, throughout the year because it is
(12:58):
all family, you know, we the neighborhood is our family.
Members are our family, and we like to keep everybody
together and embrace, you know, what has gone through the years.
We go down to the Blessing of the waters. There's
no more fishing boats down there, but it's memories now.
We bring her down there to bless and remember all
(13:21):
the fishermen who passed away, you know who at sea.
So a lot of traditions we keep going because it's
what we built it on. And like I said, you know,
it's in honor to keep it going.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, well, then let's talk about the who, what, when, where, why?
So of course this is the Fisherman's Feast in Boston's
North End. We all know where that is. Tell us
a little bit about when people should show up, of
course for the big events, and what people should bring.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So a couple of things. So our festival is August
fourteenth through the seventeenth opening ceremonies on Thursday August fourteenth
at six thirty pm, that's when the opening ceremonies happen,
and we will we have a great performance a thirty
a night by an Italian American singer Biagio So's. It
(14:10):
will be a great performance Friday. Opening ceremonies at four
o'clock on Friday with the Connabali show, which is another
Sicilian tradition where we have some floats that go through
the streets with a bunch of Italian Sicilian dancers that
(14:30):
will put on a great performance. And then we have
a we have our main act of Booty Vortex, which
is a great disco group coming on in eight thirty.
Saturday is noontime. We have a children's procession followed by
the well we already talked about the Great Meatball Contest
with a bunch of Italian games as well. And then
(14:52):
we have a Billy, We have the Family Brats followed
by Billion the Jets, another great performance and then Sunday.
Sunday is a full day of fun and enjoyment. While
thirty the procession starts. You're gonna see multiple marching bands
going going throughout the streets, will have the reminiscence and
(15:13):
entertainment on stage, but throughout the whole Note that it's
just full of fun. Italian American ceremony. You know, everybody's
Italian that day. Everybody, everybody becomes Italian that day, you know,
and just it's just enjoying the sights and sounds. Just
a few security things that we have, you know, we
(15:34):
have that we have security checkpoints at every entrance. There
will be no backpacks or over gatina is allowed. And
we asked everybody you know that that who's under twenty
one to be you know, they that to be a
company buying adults, you know, just for safety precautions. But
you know, we have Boston Police. We thank the Boston
(15:55):
Police Department. Maya Woo's office, you know, for supporting us
and helping us, you know, this tradition going and North
North Street, Fleet Street and Lewis Street, that's where it
all takes place.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Okay, And then getting there on the tea is probably
the best option because I hate to say it, but
even on a good day, I cannot park in your
neighborhood easily, So the tea is probably the best way
to go.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Correct. So you've got access for the blue line at
Aquarium Station, North Station and Hey Market, those are three
great access points that you just get off and just
walk right into the North End and I'm sure you
won't be able to miss it. You could probably smell
your way all the way to the Fisherman's Fees because
it'll be a lot of a roam aor in the
(16:37):
air of good Italian food and it's going to be
a great festival to you know, everybody's gonna want to
be there, So I tell everybody you know, get there early,
you know, make sure that you're ready to enjoy the entertainment,
and then stop by this bless some other you know,
to say a prayer and and to enjoy that atmospher's reel.
(17:01):
You know, it's an Italian American religious festival. And we
like to balance it off that everybody can enjoy themselves
but also remember why we are there, which is an
honor of the blessing other.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Well, then if people want to find out more about
the history of the festival, if they want to get
directions on and so forth, where can they find that out.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Yeah, so they could go on our website www. Dot
Fisherman's Feast dot com. Okay, and they could go on
there and they could get all our information. Our poster
will be up there they so they could read through
it and it has directions on how to get there
as well. It has also our backstory, which I encourage
(17:41):
everybody to read about.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Oh it's wonderful. I just read it before I gave
you a call, and there's a lot in there, and
the photographs you've got up there, it's a really cool
look into the past.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Well, Lewis, I really appreciate your time. And there's so
much work that goes into this festival, but I hope
it goes off without a hitch and you have the
best time coming up here. Are in just about a
week and change.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, we're plugging away right now. We are putting, our
members are coming down, and we are definitely in the
process of decorating the streets, getting everything ready. And that's
what we can say is come on down and enjoy,
enjoy our history, enjoy our tradition.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join me again
next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole
Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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