South Philly’s 100-Year-Old Italian Festival Returns With Music, Dancing, Food and Family Fun

South Philly’s 100-Year-Old Italian Festival Returns With Music, Dancing, Food and Family Fun

The Annual St. Nicholas of Tolentine Authentic Italian Festival will return to South Philadelphia on Sunday, October 4, on the 1700 block of South 9th Street, from noon to 8 p.m. The free, public festival is expected to draw thousands of attendees and traces its roots back to the early 1900s.

Italian festivals have been held at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church for more than 100 years. The parish was established in 1912 by Italian immigrants seeking to maintain a connection to their homeland. The current version of the festival began in 1987, marking the parish’s 75th anniversary, and has continued annually since, taking place each year on the first Sunday of October.

Rev. Nick Martorano, pastor of the church, said the festival was designed as an opportunity for the broader community, not just parishioners, to come together and celebrate the neighborhood’s Italian heritage.

The day begins at noon with a religious procession through the neighborhood, honoring saints of the Catholic Church. Statues of the saints are carried through the streets accompanied by the Verdi Band performing traditional Italian marches.

Following the procession, the festival features a range of Italian food from area restaurants and vendors, including The Kitchen Consigliere, Termini Bros Bakery and Del Buono Bakery, among others. Menu offerings include arancini, broccoli rabe, eggplant rollata, escarole and beans, meatball and porchetta sandwiches, pizza, sausage and peppers, Italian seafood and rice, tripe, a pasta station, and Italian cakes and desserts, along with chicken fingers, roast beef sandwiches, wine, beer and cordials. Food and drink are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Entertainment Lineup

DJ Spanky Brown will host and perform throughout the day. Additional scheduled performances include:

• 1:00 p.m. — Matthew Maisano, a Philadelphia-native vocalist and 2024–2025 Portland Opera resident artist
• 1:30 p.m. — The Vivaci Dancers, performing traditional dance and inviting audience participation
• 2:00 p.m. — “That’s Amore: The Great Italian-American Songbook,” featuring Jenna Esposito, Steve Ritrovato’s Sinatra tribute, and the City Rhythm Orchestra
• 3:30 p.m. — Nick Desiderio, an accordion performer
• 4:30 p.m. — Quaker City String Band, 2023’s first-place string band
• 5:00 p.m. — Special guest performance by The New York Tenors, featuring Andy Cooney, Daniel Rodriguez and Christopher Macchio
• 6:00 p.m. — DJ Bob Kelly
• 7:00 p.m. — City Rhythm’s “Sound of Philadelphia Dance Party”

The festival will also include rides, face painting, games, sand art and other activities for children.