By Mallory Decker

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The 99th annual Feast of San Gennaro is currently taking place in Manhattan’s Little Italy. The event, which began today, is scheduled to run through September 21. According to ABC7NY, the festival opened with the traditional blessing of the stands, during which local vendors and businesses received a benediction to mark the beginning of the event.

This year’s grand procession is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow, with actor and radio host Joe Piscopo serving as grand marshal. The procession is a central feature of a festival that originated in 1926 as a one-day block party organized by Neapolitan immigrants in honor of their patron saint, San Gennaro. As reported by CBS News, the Feast of San Gennaro remains a longstanding symbol of Italian heritage in New York City.

During the festival, Mulberry Street, from Canal to Houston streets, is filled with food vendors offering traditional Italian dishes such as sausage and peppers, fried calamari, and clams. The scent of hand-rolled cigars is also present in the area. Alongside food, the event includes live music, religious ceremonies, and a scheduled panel featuring Sylvester Stallone and the cast of The Tulsa King. “It’s awesome, it’s so many people, beautiful,” said Rick Vavro, a visitor from Austin, Texas, told CBS News.

Ernest Lepore, a fourth-generation owner of Ferrara’s gelato, a business that has been part of the community for 133 years, emphasized the value of continuity and tradition. “It’s so much fun to be part of the history,” he said in a statement obtained by CBS News. Lepore noted that the essence of the festival is found in its simplicity and enjoyment. “It doesn’t have to be fancy, it has to be fun,” he added.