Mark your calendars! La Festa Italiana, Jersey City’s biggest Italian festival returns in August with live bands, great food, and games & rides for the kids! La Festa Italiana begins Wed, Aug 13th, and runs through Sun, Aug 17th, from 5pm -11pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday; 2pm-11pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Located on 6th & Brunswick Streets, in the old village neighborhood, La Festa Italiana will dazzle festivalgoers with delicious dishes from popular bistros; frothy brews from neighborhood bars; and crowd-pleasing Jersey bands that play the hottest hits every night from 7pm-to-11 pm.

“People absolutely love this event!” Festival Chairman Nick Grillo says. “They plan days off, vacations, even weddings around these five days. It’s wonderful to still see so much excitement around this century-old event in this ever-changing city.”

LIVE BANDS Every Night at 7:00 p.m.

This year’s entertainment is a Who’s Who of musical talent playing top hits from Bruno Mars to Bruce Springsteen and a new band performs every night. On Wed, Aug 7th, Toga Party Band returns to the stage. "We are beyond excited and truly honored to return to La Festa Italiana—one of the most vibrant and beloved festivals around! There’s nothing like the energy, the food, the people, and the pride of this incredible celebration. We can’t wait to bring the party back to Jersey City and and be part of this amazing tradition once again!”

On Thursday, Aug 14th: The Counterfeiters perform, and on Friday, Aug 15th : Promised Land, a Springsteen cover band, returns by popular demand. Saturday, Aug 16th: crowd favorite THE CAMEOS return, and, on closing night, Sunday, Aug 17th: a crowd favorite, SOUL MACHINE (formerly known as Total Soul), the 9-piece band that plays dance hits like ‘Shout’ and ‘Proud Mary’.

It wouldn’t be La Festa without an authentic sausage and peppers on a hard roll and DELLANO’S is back once again to bring festival goers those traditional Italian sandwiches. A big hit with La Festa-goers, the KREME BAR returns with their yummy, cheesy mozz arepas: “We always look forward to participating in La Festa Italiana,” owner Karen Herrera says. “ For the past 11 years they have made us feel like family. It’s the one event of the year that doesn’t feel like we are working. It’s just a good time with amazing people and music.”
ANNABELLA’S “House of Mozzarella” with its gourmet mozz returns offering fresh mozz on-site. MAGLIONE’S ITALIAN ICES and JERSEY & CO. GELATO will be back with delicious, creamy gelatos in fantastic flavors.

WHITE STAR’S three bars scattered throughout the festival will serve craft beers & cocktails to cool off the crowds. 344 Sixth Street Jersey City, NJ 07302 www.LaFestaJC.com Email: lafestaitalianajc@gmail.com Tel: 201-795-0120

Pizza is a huge hit at La Festa Italiana, and Pie Oh My returns with five wood-fired pizzas to choose from: their signature Margherita, Vodka, Pesto and Pepperoni, and a special for La Festa: New Jersey Devils Pepperoni made with hot honey infused with chili peppers.

“La Festa is the best Italian feast in New Jersey,” owner Jed Hershkovitz says. “It’s a fun family atmosphere and it won’t burn your pockets like the rest of the festivals.”
Italian specialties handmade by church parishioners are a highlight at La Festa Italiana like their famous Zeppole (made from a secret recipe) dusted with powdered sugar: they are delicious!

Homemade Rice Balls (Arancini) drizzled with tomato gravy wow the crowds every year, and at Caffe Italiano behind Holy Rosary, ‘Church Ladies’ sell freshly made cakes, cannoli, pies, coffee and tea. There’s plenty of family seating at Caffe Italiano and along with our popular Money Wheel & Bar DJ CARLY will play non-stop tunes.

This year marks the 5th summer, O’Leary’s Publik House on Garfield Avenue hosts the Wine & Peaches and Limoncello booth. “We’re looking forward to a great time just like last year and the years before,” owner and Jersey City Firefighter Kevin O’Leary says. “At La Festa, it’s always great to see old faces and new faces.”

As a 501© (3) entity, La Festa relies on financial support from our very generous Gold and Silver sponsors. This year’s Presenting Sponsor is Guarini Plumbing and Heating of Jersey City, Platinum Sponsors are Murray Paving and INPEACE. Our Gold Sponsors are Arco Construction, Inserra Supermarkets, JCT Solutions and Silverman Properties; Silver Sponsors are BCB Bank, BFI Furniture, The Dante Aleghieri Society, HDSID, Key Food Fresh & Natural, LeFrak & Newport Development, Mast Construction, Panepinto Properties, Saputo Cheese and SGCM.

La Festa benefits historic Holy Rosary Church, the first Italian Parish established in the State of New Jersey. On Aug. 15, 16 and 17, Holy Rosary Church will celebrate the Assumption & St. Rocco Feast Days. Beginning Friday, August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am; on Saturday, August 16th, a Healing Mass in veneration to St. Rocco will be celebrated.

On Sunday, Aug. 17th at 11:30 am, the Feast Day Mass venerating Maria SS. Dell’Assunta & St. Rocco will be celebrated. Holy Rosary’s traditional Street Procession follows the Mass with the statues of Maria SS. Dell ‘Assunta and San Rocco carried through our neighborhood streets as a blessing to Downtown Jersey City. The Clarity Festival Band joins the Procession to play traditional Italian melodies along the route.

Faithful are invited to join in all of these celebrations. Community fellowship and unity are a highlight of La Festa Italiana.
“Every summer our parishioners’ families and friends and those visiting Jersey City come together in both a community and spiritual unity,” Chairman Grillo says. “Holy Rosary Church has always been a church of inclusivity – we welcome everyone – and La Festa gives us the opportunity to celebrate inclusiveness with music, food, and meaningful fellowship.”

Founded in 1885, Holy Rosary Church is the first Italian Church in New Jersey; and La Festa Italiana is Holy Rosary’s special way of saying thank you to its parishioners and neighbors. The Church will be open for visitors to see up-close the magnificent beauty that is Holy Rosary Church. Visitors are invited to offer a 7-day Memorial Candle before San Rocco or the Blessed Mother in honor of or in memory of their loved ones. Donation is $10 per candle, and candles will be available in the church vestibule during festival hours..

For more information, please call us at (201) 795-0120, or visit our website: www.lafestajc.com