St. Ann's Italian Festival 2022 Kicks Off In Hoboken This Friday: All Details Here

HOBOKEN, NJ — The five-day St. Ann's Italian Festival, One of Hoboken's most loved annual events — and one well-known enough that it lured Frank Sinatra back to town in 1984 while campaigning with Pres. Ronald Reagan — returns this Friday night, likely with a more packed schedule than last year's scaled-down version.

There will be DJ's each night spinning tunes, as well as a beer garden, games, and the famous foods it's known for, including Italian sausages and those fried, doughy zeppole desserts cooked up by the St. Ann's Guild.

Years ago, the festival was listed among national events for tourists, and still has a place on regional summer events lists.

The Schedule

The St. Ann's Church website says the festival will run 6-11 p.m. the first night. Check the website for updates. As of now:

• Friday: 6-11 p.m.
• Saturday: 1-11 p.m.
• Sunday: 1-11 p.m.
• Monday: 6-11 p.m.
• Tuesday: Feast Day Mass and then procession start at 11 a.m.; Festival: 1-11 p.m.

The feast was skipped in 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic, then returned last year with some food, games, and entertainment.

Typically, the festival has a full lineup of live bands, games, rides, food (especially the zeppole dessert fried up by the St. Ann's Guild), and the beer garden.

At the end, a 600-pound statue of St. Ann, the patron saint of women and fertility, is carried through the streets of Hoboken, as is tradition. This year, the procession will occur the morning of the last day of the festival, after 11 a.m. Mass on Tuesday, July 26.

The festival takes place on the blocks near St. Ann's Church at Seventh and Jefferson streets, near the center of town.

History Of The Festival

Immigrants from San Giacomo, Italy arrived in Hoboken and founded the St. Ann’s Society
around the turn of the last century. They finished building the church in 1906 and began holding the annual festival in 1910.

The events include the Novena (nine days of prayer and worship) for St. Ann, the Mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. The church holds services to bless those groups.

See photos from the 2021 St. Ann's festival here.

Updated 2022 Information: Volunteering, Services, More

Instagram: St. Ann's
Volunteering, services, and festival hours: www.StAnnHoboken.com/feast