Santa Rosalia Feast Brings Bensonhurst Together

For ten days in August, 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst will come alive with music, food, and tradition as the 51st annual Feast of Santa Rosalia takes over the neighborhood. Stretching from 68th to 75th Streets, the festival runs through August 24 and brings together Italian roots and Brooklyn community spirit.

The Santa Rosalia Feast traces back to Palermo, Sicily, where in 1624 the saint was credited with ending a plague after villagers paraded her relics through the streets. In Bensonhurst, the commemoration has grown into a lively mix of sacred ritual and family-friendly street fair.

Every night, live bands perform on stage while carnival rides and games fill the avenue. Food vendors line the street, offering everything from Italian specialties to Greek and Spanish favorites. Highlights include the men’s and women’s cannoli-eating contest on August 22 and the grand procession honoring Santa Rosalia on August 24, followed by mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Danielle Caminiti, a Brooklyn attorney who turned her love of cooking into a thriving culinary venture during the pandemic. Caminiti, author of From Courtroom to Cucina and founder of the platform Have U Covered in the Kitchen.

For many Brooklynites, the feast is more than just a neighborhood event — it’s a yearly tradition that keeps history, family, and community at the center of summer