100+ Year Old South Philly Italian Festival Returns with Food, Music, Family Fun, & Procession

A beloved tradition with roots back to the early 1900s returns to South Philadelphia. The Annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine Authentic Italian Festival will bring out thousands of people on Sunday, October 6th, to the 1700 Block of South 9th Street, from 12 Noon to 8:00pm. One of the largest authentic Italian festivals of the year is back and starts with the annual religious procession throughout the neighborhood with a long line of the Statues of Saints and their faithful following.

Food vendors will include The Kitchen Consigliere, Marra’s Pizza, Esposito Porchetta, Termini Bros Bakery, Del Buono Bakery and others. Entertainment will include Nick Desiderio, Elegance String Quartet, The Vivaci Dancers, That’s Amore: The Great Italian-American Songbook, Quaker City String Band, City Rhythm “Love Train Dance Party,” Lights Out, The Sicilian Tenors and DJ Spanky Brown. Family and fun for the kids will include rides, face painting, games, sandy candy, sand art and more. The festival is no charge and open to the public, with food and drink pay as you go. For more information, visit www dot stnicksitalianfestival dot com

Italian festivals have been held at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church for over 100 years. The parish was established in 1912 by Italian immigrants who wished to maintain a connection to their homeland, and their great spirit of faith, family and tradition has been maintained throughout the decades. The current-day festival began in 1987 on the occasion of the parish’s 75th Anniversary and has been thriving ever since. The event takes place annually on the first Sunday of October and is held on the 1700 Block of South 9th Street. It is no charge and open to the public. After the pandemic, the event returned in 2023 with a beautiful sunny day and thousands of people filling the streets once again!

Rev. Nick Martorano, pastor of the church, has strived to make it a very special celebration for South Philadelphia. He said, “We wanted to create an opportunity for our entire community, not just our parishioners, to come together and celebrate one of the many diverse cultures that make our neighborhood so great.”

Because of the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the day, this festival has indeed come to hold a special place in the hearts of all the local people and out of town visitors as well.

Keeping with the authentic nature of this occasion, the day begins with a procession at 12:00 Noon honoring some of the iconic saints of the Catholic church who are admired by the faithful and viewed as shining role models. The statues are carried through the street accompanied by the renowned Verdi Band playing traditional Italian marches.

Following the procession, the festival gets underway with its now famous variety of ethnic food delicacies, fine musical entertainment, rides and games for kids, and more.

The festival features an array of food from Italian restaurants around the region, offering a tantalizing showcase of Italy’s rich culinary heritage. The festival also includes live music and wine tastings, making it a feast for all the senses. Food vendors will include The Kitchen Consigliere, Marra’s Pizza, Esposito Porchetta, Termini Bros Bakery, Del Buono Bakery and others.

Food choices will include authentic Italian delicacies such as Arancini, Broccoli Rabe, Eggplant Rollatta, Escarole and Beans, Meatball Sandwiches, Porchetta Sandwiches, Pizza, Sausage and Peppers, Italian Seafood and Rice, Tripe, a Pasta Station, Italian Cakes and Desserts. Plus Chicken Fingers, Roast Beef Sandwiches, Wine, Beer and Cordials.

Entertainment Lineup:

All Day
DJ Spanky Brown
Entertaining DJ Spanky will host the proceedings and spin throughout the day.

1:00pm
The Elegance String Quartet
ESQ has distinguished themselves in the music industry with a Signature Style that harnesses the beauty of the traditional string quartet and then completely revolutionizes it. From New York’s Radio City Hall to Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, these musicians have had the privilege to appear alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry: Idina Menzel, Michael Bublé, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Branford Marsalis, Kygo, The Roots, and The Who among them.

2:00pm
Nick Desiderio
Philly’s finest accordion maestro is a crowd favorite every year.

3:00pm
“That’s Amore: The Great Italian-American Songbook”
New York’s wonderful Jenna Esposito graces the stage with some of your favorite selections, joined by Steve Ritrovato’s sounds of Sinatra and the fine musicians of the City Rhythm Orchestra

4:30pm
The Vivaci Dancers
This captivating dance troupe demonstrates fascinating traditional steps and invites audience members to join the fun.

5:00pm
Quaker City String Band
2023’s First Place String Band will deliver their amazingly rich sound and have everyone strutting on 9th Street

5:30pm
The Sicilian Tenors
From thrilling high notes at the end of “Nessun Dorma” to tender moments from “The Phantom of The Opera”, the glory of the Italian tenor voice is on full display in this exciting show. Caruso, Scaccio, and Vitale, were dubbed “The Three Tenors meets the Rat Pack” because they combine that with great camaraderie and light-hearted humor on stage. Their program includes a wide variety of marvelous songs that will have you clapping and singing in your seats. They have performed everywhere from LA, to Las Vegas, to Carnegie Hall, and in front of over 60,000 people at Ford Field, along with a great new program for Public TV.

6:30pm
DJ Bob Kelly
Everyone’s favorite traffic reporter, Fox 29’s Bob Kelly, is also a very popular DJ who will brighten up of the street.

7:30pm
City Rhythm “Love Train Dance Party”
These electrifying horns and singers will present party music from The Sounds of Philadelphia and more.

Also DJ Spanky Brown will host the proceedings and spin throughout the day.

Summary Schedule:

1:00 – Elegance String Quartet
2:00 – Accordionist Nick Desiderio
3:00 – “That’s Amore: The Great Italian-American Songbook”: Featuring Jenna Esposito, Steve Ritrovato & More
4:30 – The Vivaci Dancers
5:00 – Quaker City String Band
5:30 – The Sicilian Tenors
6:30 – DJ Bob Kelly from Fox 29
7:30 – City Rhythm “Love Train Dance Party”
DJ Spanky Brown Hosting and Spinning Throughout the Day