
Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
It was a feast to remember on 18th Avenue this year.
Bensonhurst’s Festa di Santa Rosalia, which comes around every August, is a 10-day street street festival that commemorates the patron saint of Palermo, Italy, where the feast has been celebrated continuously since 1624. This year, the 41st anniversary of the Bensonhurst event, the statue of the Saint Rosalia looked a little less spooky, as she had been touched up with a fresh paint job and other improvements.
The food selection was the usual: Lucy’s Sausage, rice balls, arepas, chocolate covered cheesecake and marshmallows, zeppoles, barbecued turkey legs, and deep fried Oreos.
We rocked out to some great cover bands and swayed to traditional Italian tunes. Of course, Bensonhurst’s young singing sensation Diana Marie Panetto dazzled fair goers by belting out those Italian opera classics.
Neighbors of all ages showed up to play carnival games, enjoy the music, and ride that giant rickety ferris wheel. Did you get any photos of this year’s festivities? Post them in the comments below or email them to [email protected] for a chance to be featured.
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Erin Giardina
- Photo by Erin Giardina
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean
- Photo by Rachel Silberstein/ Bensonhurst Bean