MANGIA: Hoboken Italian Festival / Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri

Looks like we picked the wrong week to quit eating cannoli…

The Hoboken Italian Festival gets underway on in Sinatra Park on the Waterfront this Thursday, featuring a feast for the senses—rides, games, live music and of course, FOOD.

All of this is firmly centered around the traditional procession of the Madonna Dei Martiri on September 12. Madonna Dei Martiri (Madonna of the Martyrs) is the patron saint of sailors, stemming from the occasion in the 12th Century when Italian sailors returned from the Crusades to the town of Molfetta to find an icon of the Madonna in the harbor.

Throughout the years, many of Hoboken’s Italian immigrants have maintained a strong connection to Molfetta, and the traditional Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri was first celebrated here in 1927.

These days, the 800-lb statue is carried from St. Francis Church through the streets of Hoboken down to the Waterfront—boards a ferry for a trip along the Hudson, then back through the Festival.

CLICK HERE for a map of the procession route.

Madonna Dei Martiri on the Ferry

Statue of the Madonna Dei Martiri proceeding through the Festival

As for the festival, here’s the schedule of events:

THURSDAY 9/10
6:00-7:30 pm – Italian Sound
8:00-10:00 – Rock Kandy

FRIDAY 9/11
7:00 – 11:00 pm – Freestyle Friday featuring TKA, Coro, Rockel, and more!

SATURDAY 9/12 – Feast Day

Noon to 1:30pm –  Johnny Maggio
2:00 – 3:00pm  Alessandro Camano
3:00 – 5:00 pm –  Jenna Esposito
5 :00 – 6:30 pm –  Elio Scaccio
8:00 pm – Cannoli Eating Contest
7:00 – 11:00 pm –  MGM Guarnera Bros

9:00 FIREWORKS!

SUNDAY 9/13
1:00 – 3:00 pm –  Blame it on the Girl
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Garden State Jazz Orchestra
5:00 –  6:00 pm – Grape Stomp Contest
6:00 – 7:30 pm – My Kind of Town/Best of the Best – Sinatra Tribute Contest
8:00 – 10:00 pm – The Surftunes

Oh, and food… Did we mention the food???

***PLEASE NOTE…
(From the City of Hoboken)
Sinatra Drive from 4th St to 11th St will be closed to vehicular traffic as follows:
Thursday: noon – 6am (open to only northbound traffic after midnight)
Friday: 4pm – 6am (open to only northbound traffic after midnight)
Saturday: 11am – 6am (open to only northbound traffic after midnight)
Sunday: road closed at 11am. Festival ends 11pm and roadway will reopen in both directions once it has been cleared of vendors and debris.