Italian Feast Guide · Boston, MA
Saint Anthony's Feast
Last updated
In Boston's North End, the last weekend of August belongs to Saint Anthony's Feast, a religious festival that Italian immigrants from Montefalcione, in the province of Avellino, started in 1919. It has run every year since and is billed as the largest Italian religious festival in New England. This guide covers the essentials from the feast's official website: the 2026 dates, the announced dates for 2027 and beyond, hours, the Sunday procession and how to get there by train or car, so you can plan before confirming at the source.
Quick answer
Saint Anthony's Feast is an Italian religious street festival on Endicott, Thacher and North Margin Streets in Boston's North End. The 107th feast ran August 27–30, 2026. The official site has announced the 108th for August 26–29, 2027. Hours are 5 to 10 PM on Thursday and 11 AM to 10 PM Friday through Sunday.
At a glance
- Where
- Endicott, Thacher and North Margin Streets, North End, Boston
- 2026 dates
- August 27–30, 2026 (the 107th feast)
- Next dates
- August 26–29, 2027 (the 108th feast)
- Later dates
- August 24–27, 2028 and August 23–26, 2029
- Hours
- Thursday 5 PM–10 PM; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM–10 PM
- Admission
- Entertainment is free and open to the public; you pay at vendor stands and the piazza
- Grand Procession
- Sunday, starting 11:30 AM, lasting about ten hours
History
The feast traces back to 1919, when Italian immigrants from Montefalcione, a town in the province of Avellino, began honoring Saint Anthony in their new neighborhood. It has been held every year since, on the weekend of the last Sunday in August.
Today the official site calls it the largest Italian religious festival in New England, and notes that National Geographic dubbed it the “Feast of All Feasts.”
What to expect
- All of the entertainment is free and open to everyone. Food and drink are paid for at the vendor stands and the piazza, and donations are accepted at the Chapel of Saint Anthony and Saint Lucy.
- The centerpiece is the Grand Procession of Saint Anthony, which sets off on Sunday at 11:30 AM and winds on for roughly ten hours.
- The official site lists restaurants located within the feast, including Pizzeria Regina, Massimino's Cucina Italiana, Filippo Ristorante and Ducali.
Getting there
- By train or the T: ride to North Station (Green and Orange lines, plus commuter rail), walk down Causeway Street and turn right on Endicott Street.
- Or take the Green or Blue line to Government Center and walk through City Hall Plaza and the Greenway toward the North End.
- Parking garages named on the official site: the North End Garage at 600 Commercial Street, the Parcel 7 Garage (entrance on Sudbury Street) and the Government Center Garage. Check rates directly with each garage.
Sausage and peppers at the feast
Sausage and peppers is a staple of Italian-American street feasts in general — the smell of links and peppers on a flat-top is half the reason Larry shows up. We don’t say who is cooking it at this feast, because vendor lineups change.
Check the festival’s own vendor page for who is cooking what. Want the dish at home? Read Larry’s complete sausage and peppers guide, make the signature recipe, or browse all recipes. Feeding a feast-sized crowd? Try the party & feast portion calculator.
Common questions
When is Saint Anthony's Feast 2027?
The official site has announced the 108th feast for August 26–29, 2027. It has also announced August 24–27, 2028 and August 23–26, 2029.
What are the feast hours?
Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM; Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM.
Is Saint Anthony's Feast free?
All entertainment is free and open to the public. You pay for food and drink at vendor stands and the piazza.
When does the Grand Procession start?
Sunday at 11:30 AM. It lasts about ten hours.
How do I get to the feast by T?
Take the Green or Orange line or commuter rail to North Station, walk down Causeway Street and turn right on Endicott Street. Or take the Green or Blue line to Government Center and walk through City Hall Plaza and the Greenway.
Where can I park?
The official site names the North End Garage at 600 Commercial Street, the Parcel 7 Garage (entrance on Sudbury Street) and the Government Center Garage.