Recently, the Hoboken Italian Festival celebrated its 100th anniversary from September 10 to 13. Hosted in honor of Madonna Dei Martiri, the weekend was dedicated to commemorating Italian culture while spotlighting many of Hoboken’s local businesses.
The festival was derived from the tradition of the Madonna Dei Martiri over 600 years ago. In 1399, the King of Napoli combined the Street Festival and Religious Celebration to jointly celebrate the “Miracle” and the blessing of Madonna. These blessings originated in 1188, when crusaders found the Icon of the Madonna floating on the water after returning from the holy land.
They brought it to an infantry in Molfetta, a port town on the Adriatic Sea. There, some patients were miraculously healed, while those who died were regarded as Martyrs of the Faith. The Madonna became Molfetta’s patron in 1840, where many prayed to her. Among the most devoted were fishermen, who asked for her protection, and as a result, many statues of the Madonna were placed on fishing boats for veneration.
Traditionally, the Hoboken Italian Festival is hosted the weekend after Labor Day. Throughout the festivities, attendees could feast on local Italian cuisine stationed across Sinatra Drive. From delicious zeppoles to savory Italian sausages to fresh pizzas and sweet cannolis, there was something for everyone to try! The celebration kicked off on September 10 with the tunes of country music and classic rock, country line dance lessons, a feast bar filled with alcoholic drinks, and a mechanical bull. On September 11, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, the City of Hoboken hosted its annual memorial service to remember the lives lost. The Hoboken Italian Festival supported Tunnel to Towers, a foundation helping first responders with mortgage-free homes, with Salute to America, a show honoring America’s music icons. The show included Kyle Martin’s Piano Man, a tribute to Billy Joel, and Separate Ways the Band, a homage to Ultimate Journey.
The true star of the weekend, September 12, was the “Feast Day,” where an 800-pound statue of Madonna Dei Martiri, or Madonna of the Martyrs, was paraded through the streets of Hoboken and sailed around the Hudson before its return to church. In the afternoon, La Strana Sensazione and Dio LoVuole Band, two bands from Molfetta, filled the streets of Hoboken with fantastic music. The tunes continued in the evening with a performance from Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti singing iconic songs from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin while the R3 Brothers, a festival classic for nearly 20 years, brought their high-energy to celebrate the fest. The day concluded with Hoboken Italian Festival’s first-ever drone show.
September 13, the feast finale, started the day with an NFL watch party at the Feast Bar. Moroccan Sheepherders, a 12-piece band, played live cover music on the pier in the afternoon. The festival’s last performance, played by The Jersey Tenors, was the ultimate tribute to Frankie Valli, The Beach Boys, Queen, and more.
It was an amazing opportunity for everyone to enjoy Hoboken’s sights while listening to wonderful music and feasting on local food. Feast Committee member Gregory Gallo said that the Hoboken Italian Festival represented more than just a celebration of Italian culture. “This is really the history of our country,” Gallo said. “We have so many immigrants that have come here and assimilated in our society.”
