After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the "De Cecco Little Italy Festival of Rochester, NY," will mark its triumphant return to downtown Rochester on August 20^th at Parcel 5, to celebrate the National Recognition recently awarded to Rochester’s historic Little Italy Neighborhood, located in the city's Jay Street and Lyell Avenue commercial corridors.   

The neighborhood was recently recognized as an "historic Italian American enclave" by the Italian Enclaves Historical Society. The Little Italy Festival prides itself on being much more than an ordinary Italian Festival. It is one of Rochester’s most inclusive and most popular “neighborhood celebrations’ , where all cultures of the historic Little Italy neighborhood are included and celebrated.  

The festival will feature an Italian theme, with plenty of great Italian food, from vendors like Roncone's, Rocky's Italian Restaurant, and Agatina's restaurant,  and a live show by international superstar Giada Valenti from Venice Italy, plus a performance by “Tre Bella”, an all-female Italian American trio from NYC. The festival will also include Puerto Rican and Jamaican cuisine, with live salsa music by the Victor Antonetti Orchestra and international hits spun by local favorite DJ PABONY (The festival program with times and artists is attached).  Attendees will enjoy international cuisine and can dance reggae, salsa, R&B/Soul, and the Italian tarantella at Rochester’s premier event space, Parcel 5. 

Moreover, the festival will include an important interfaith Opening Blessing Ceremony and Outdoor Community Prayer Celebration honoring St. Padre Pio and St. Michael at 2PM – in the hope of bringing all cultures together to pray for peace in the unity of faith, at a time when the city of Rochester is suffering from daily gun violence. The ceremony will include the Knights of Columbus, the Irish Ancient Order of the Hibernians, an international flag color guard, and the Gates Police Keystone Club Pipes and Drums. All faiths and cultures are welcome to participate. 

“We look forward to bringing the community together to celebrate the historic Little Italy neighborhood with us, and we welcome all cultures to enjoy a peaceful day of delicious food and family entertainment with us at Parcel 5. The festival will offer a little something for everyone, and I take great pride in making it Rochester's most inclusive neighborhood celebration ” said Little Italy Founder Silvano Orsi.