Every year since she was a kid, Cristina Cappiello, 24, has sat outside the Glen Cove home her great-grandfather built and waited for a statue of St. Rocco to be carried through her neighborhood. The Feast of St. Rocco, a celebration of the patron saint of healing, was an event that her grandmother insisted the entire family attend together. But, this year, celebrating the patron saint of healing meant more to Cappiello and her family after her mom, Antoinette, 52, was diagnosed with cancer in April.

“It changed our outlook on everything and warped our world completely,” Cappiello said. The feast is celebrated by the Church of St. Rocco in Glen Cove every year near the end of July, from Wednesday to Sunday. The five-day celebration, in its 44th year, boasts food and craft vendors, as well as carnival games and rides.