LITTLE ITALY HISTORICAL STATUE TO HERALD YORKTOWN FEAST OF SAN GENNARO

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. September 13, 2015 — Call it “when the Saint goes marching in.” As the Yorktown Feast of San Gennaro officially opens with a ceremonial procession Thursday, Sept. 17, it will be led by one of the original statues of the patron saint of Naples, St. Gennaro, that was carried through the streets of Little Italy for the first Feasts of the early 20th Century, starting in 1926.

The historical figure is on loan to Yorktown from the Most Precious Blood Church on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan.

Yorktown Feast of San Gennaro will feature a full array of authentic Italian dishes from street vendors, plus games and rides for children, and a full schedule of music. Hours are 5-11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, and Friday, Sept. 18; 12 noon-11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19; 12 noon-9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. There will be a closing procession on Sunday.

“It’s a privilege to participate in the first San Gennaro Feast in Yorktown,” said Father Tom Kreiser of St. Patrick’s Church in Yorktown Heights. “What a joy to celebrate the Italian culture in our great community.” The statue of St. Gennaro will be on view at the church for 9 a.m. mass on Saturday, Sept. 19. Also participating is the Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton, based in the hamlet of Shrub Oak.

In addition to live music by local band Chain of Fools (including Yorktown Police Department officer Larry Eidelman), Streets of the Bronx, Michael Vegas and Johnny Sal, DJ Total Entertainment Group will spin music throughout the event.

Leading the opening procession on Sept. 17 will be Yorktown Feast of San Gennaro Grand Marshal Sonny Graci. The longtime Yorktown resident is beloved by generations of families as a passionate life coach of young people through sports and the Joseph Graci Memorial Tournament, held in his son’s memory.

Also prominent in the procession will be Yorktown Town Justice Salvatore A. Lagonia as a lead trumpeter. Honorary carriers of St. Gennaro scheduled to participate include Yorktown Town Justice Gary Raniolo, Yorktown Town Board member Tom Diana, Yorktown Heights Engine Co. #1 fire chief Jay Swart, and Yorktown Chamber of Commerce president Eric DiBartolo. They will escort the statue to a place of honor in Railroad Park to be on public view for the duration of the Feast.

The public is invited to join the opening procession by gathering behind Engine Co. #1’s Commerce Street firehouse between 5-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17.

The Yorktown Police Department has issued a traffic advisory that Commerce Street between Downing Drive and Kear Street will be closed from 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, through 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21. Motorists will have direct, easy access to stores and services in Yorktown Green, Underhill Plaza and Mount Kisco Medical Group by using entrances on Kear Street (next to Mavis Tire), and on Downing Drive (entrance to Yorktown Green next to Burger King; entrance to Underhill Plaza across from Yorktown Diner).