San Gennaro 2019: Schedule of cannoli eating contest, grand procession and more

The 93rd Annual Feast of San Gennaro has returned to Little Italy in Manhattan.

LITTLE ITALY, Manhattan (WABC) -- If you're craving a good calzone or cannoli, you're in luck! The 93rd Annual Feast of San Gennaro has returned to Little Italy in Manhattan.

The feast began Thursday and will end Sunday, September 22.
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Apart from the incredible food vendors, revelers can enjoy a number of activities, like a zeppole-eating competition and live performances.

This year, actor Steve Schirripa from "The Sopranos" serves as Grand Marshal and will lead the Grand Procession on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The feast is a salute to the patron saint of Naples, Saint Gennaro, who was martyred for his faith in 305 A.D.

All the color and gaiety, pomp and solemnity of an old Italian religious festival, or festa, came to the drab, narrow streets of New York's lower East Side, Sept. 24, 1956.AP

Democratic vice presidential candidate Walter Mondale pins money on the base of the statue of San Gennaro, Sunday, Sept. 19, 1976AP

Sen. Walter Mondale, democratic vice presidential candidate, reaches cut to shake hands as he is engulfed in crowd at the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy Sept. 19, 1976.AP

People crowd Mulberry Street in New York during the annual San Gennaro Feast in New York's Little Italy, Sept. 1979. (AP Photo)AP

People stroll along Mulberry Street, decorated for the upcoming San Gennaro Feast in New York's Little Italy, Sept. 9, 1995.AP

Robert Diaz poses with a variety of cannoli while working for a vendor at the Feast of San Gennaro on Mulberry Street in New York's Little Italy neighborhood, Sept. 15, 2016AP

People stroll down checking out the offerings from food vendors Mulberry Street during the annual Feast of San Gennaro in New York's Little Italy neighborhood, Sept. 15, 2016AP

Crowds of people file file through a narrow corridor between food vendor and bars on Mulberry Street during the first day of the annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little ItalyAP

Four year-old Abby Droge of San Diego, Calif., ponders what flavor of gelato she wants on Mulberry Street during the Feast of San Gennaro on Sept. 15, 2016AP

According to the feast's organizers, immigrants from Naples who settled along Mulberry Street brought this tradition to New York City in 1926. In the years following, the event has grown from a one-day festival to an 11-day extravaganza.

Ready to feast? Make sure to check out the schedule of events first:

Thursday, September 12
-- Blessing of the Stands, 6 p.m.

Friday, September 13
-- 22nd Annual Cannoli Eating Competition, 2 p.m.
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Saturday, September 14
-- The Grand Procession, 2 p.m.

Sunday, September 15
-- Gene Roberts Band, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Monday, September 16
-- Opera Night, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 18
-- Inaugural Zeppole Eating Competition, 1 p.m.

Thursday, September 19
-- Solemn High Mass Celebrating the Patron Saint of Naples at Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood, 6 p.m.

Saturday, September 21
-- Annual Meatball Eating Contest in memory of Johnny 'Cha Cha,' 1 p.m.

Sunday, September 22
-- Neapolitan Concert, 2 p.m.
--Jenna Esposito 6 to 9 p.m.
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Cannoli time! Feast of San Gennaro kicks off in Manhattan's Little Italy