St. Ann's Italian Festival Kicks Off In Hoboken Wednesday For 116th Year

HOBOKEN, NJ — The five-day St. Ann's Italian Festival in Hoboken — otherwise known as "The Feast" — returns for its 116th year beginning this Thursday evening.

The event was started in 1910 by Italian immigrants to Hoboken, and has been popular with tourists and locals alike.

It was a campaign stop in 1984 for Ronald Reagan, who visited with native son Frank Sinatra. The stop was said to be Sinatra's last visit to Hoboken.

The Feast has both fun and religious aspects. It typically features games of chance, live musical entertainment, a beer garden, and traditional Italian fair food. The popular sugary zeppoles are a favorite dessert.

History

Around the turn of the last century, immigrants from San Giacomo, Italy arrived in Hoboken and founded the St. Ann’s Society.

St. Ann, the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus, is the patron saint of mothers, of women trying to get pregnant, and more.

The St. Ann's Society finished building the church in 1906 and began holding the annual festival in 1910. Now it's held each year at Seventh and Jefferson streets near St. Ann's Church.

The events include the Novena (nine days of prayer and worship) for St. Ann. The festival ends with a Feast Day Mass and procession of the statue.

The festival was canceled in 2020 during the pandemic, and then slowly has built back, with DJ's providing music the following year.

Schedule

The events take place on the streets near St. Ann's Church at 700 Jefferson St., on the west side of Hoboken. The area is walkable from the 9th Street light rail stop, and less than a mile from the Hoboken Train Terminal.

See the musical lineup on the poster below.

See the festival website for updates.

See photos from a previous festival here.