Fisherman's Feast

View on map
Religious & SpiritualBoston
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe Feast's defining characteristic is its
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Fisherman's Feast in Boston

The Fisherman's Feast is a four-day Italian-American religious festival held every August on North and Fleet Streets in Boston's North End, making it, by organizers' account, the neighborhood's oldest continuously running Italian festival, dating to 1910. Founded by Sicilian fishermen from Sciacca devoted to the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help), it blends Catholic tradition with street food, live entertainment, and a Sunday-night finale known as the Flight of the Angel.

The Fisherman's Feast traces its origin to Sciacca, a fishing port on the southern coast of Sicily, where a tradition of devotion to the Madonna del Soccorso, Our Lady of Help, reaches back to the sixteenth century.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The Feast's defining characteristic is its origin among working fishermen: it began as a tradition carried by Sicilian fishermen from Sciacca who crewed the Boston and Gloucester fishing fleets, and for decades it was directly funded by those boats before the decline of the local fishing industry forced organizers to find new sponsors

02

The mystery stays covered

Its emotional high point, the Flight of the Angel, closes the Feast on Sunday night, when a child dressed as an angel performs a symbolic flight over the crowd to bless the Madonna del Soccorso statue before it returns indoors

03

The city starts moving

Alongside the religious core, the Feast has built its own local rituals, including an annual meatball-tasting competition among Boston restaurants and a Sorrento Cheese tower-building contest, plus four consecutive nights of free live entertainment

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Feast's central rite is the Sunday procession of the statue of the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca through the North End

Water and renewal

Living ritual

closing with the Flight of the Angel

The sacred route

Living ritual

in which a child dressed as an angel performs a symbolic aerial greeting to the Madonna above the crowd

The local code

Living ritual

The weekend opens on Thursday with a blessing of the fishing waters honoring the Sicilian fishermen who founded the Feast in 1910

Tradition 5

Living ritual

and with the ceremonial move of the Madonna's statue from its year-round home at the Fisherman's Club to a temporary outdoor chapel

Tradition 6

Living ritual

The Feast is organized by the Maritime Society of Our Lady of Perpetual Help of Sciacca

Tradition 7

Living ritual

descendants of the original Sciaccatani immigrant fishing community

Tradition 8

Living ritual

continuing a devotion to the Madonna del Soccorso that the founders trace back to sixteenth-century Sicily

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

Base the route around Boston; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.

What to wear

Casual summer clothing suited to mid-August heat and humidity; comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes are important for standing and moving through crowded streets for hours, especially...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near Boston or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map42.36 N, 71.06 WOpen in Google Maps

Boston, MA

Nearest airportBOS — Boston Logan
TransportBase the route around Boston; confirm local transport, road controls or venue access close to the day.
Stay areaStay near Boston or a practical transport base if you want a simpler arrival and return.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Boston via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Boston, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer clothing suited to mid-August heat and humidity; comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes are important for standing and moving through crowded streets for hours, especially during the Sunday procession.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Fisherman's Feast?

Fisherman's Feast is listed for August · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Fisherman's Feast take place?

The festival is listed in Boston, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Boston, MA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmommypoppins.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Fiesta de la Virgen de Caacupe

8 December 2026

Caacupe, Paraguay
Photo pending

Grand Magal de Touba

3 August 2026

Touba, Senegal
Photo pending

Romeria de la Virgen de los Angeles

1–2 August 2026

Cartago, Costa Rica
Photo pending

Sydney Royal Easter Show

19–30 March 2027

Sydney, Australia

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →