San Gennaro Feast 100 Years Strong and The Men Behind The Tradition

On this episode , Jen sits down with three lifelong Little Italy natives and San Gennaro Committee leaders Eugene Donofrio, Vito DePalo, and Mario Capparelli to kick off the 100th anniversary celebration of the Feast of San Gennaro. From growing up on Mulberry Street to now serving on the board, they share the history, heart, and hard work behind the largest and longest-running Italian feast in the United States. They discuss what it takes to organize a 10-day festival in New York City, coordinating with multiple city agencies, preserving Italian-American heritage, and how the feast has evolved while staying true to its roots. Plus, details on this year’s 100th anniversary theme honoring Italian Americans who helped shape America, plans for special celebrations, the miracle of San Gennaro, and why Little Italy will always feel like a small town in the middle of Manhattan.