Heading to Boston’s Fisherman’s Feast in the North End? What you need to know

BOSTON — The 113th Boston’s Fisherman’s Feast will return to the North End from Thursday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 20.

The historic, four-day festival will include entertainment, food, cooking demonstrations, and traditional parades, as well as a religious procession through the district’s narrow streets carrying a statue of the Madonna, street vendors, and the 5th Annual Best Meatball Competition.

The festival will be held on Fleet, North & Lewis streets in the North End. Admission is free.

Opening ceremonies will kick off the festival at 6 p.m. on Thursday when La Madonna Del Soccorso will proceed to Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park for the annual Blessing of the Fishing Waters.

At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, the Fisherman’s Feast Carnivale Show will parade through the Feast grounds with a float and dancers.

Meatball lovers can gather at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday for the 5th Annual Fisherman’s Feast Best Meatball Competition when about a dozen restaurants will compete for the “Best Meatballs” title.

At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, a nine-hour Grand Procession of La Madonna will begin through the streets of the North End, accompanied by several marching bands.

The festival will close on Sunday night after the famous Flight of the Angel at 8 p.m. when the statue of the Madonna Del Soccorso will return to North Street for the Grand Finale. This year’s Flying Angel is April Palazzolo Cedano, 9, with side angels Jillian Fialkosky,13, and Sarah Bramante, 11. Following the Angel Ceremony, spectators will be showered with confetti that falls from the rooftops.

The Fisherman’s Feast began in 1910 and is based on a tradition that goes back to the 16th century in Sciacca, Sicily.

The Feast is based on the devotion of the fishermen from Sciacca to the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help). The Feast traditionally starts on Thursday when the statue of the Madonna is moved from her home in the Fisherman’s Club to a chapel at the center of the feast. This will be her home throughout the weekend.

A full schedule of events can be found at fishermansfeast.com.

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