CLEVELAND, Ohio –For four days each August, Cleveland’s Little Italy becomes a celebration of Italian food, music, family and faith as the Feast of the Assumption is celebrated.
This year’s Feast – the 127th celebration — runs Thursday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 16, filling the neighborhood with Italian food specialties, live entertainment and religious traditions.
For Catholics, Aug. 15 is the actual Feast of the Assumption, marking their belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken into heaven, body and soul. Holy Rosary Church, which began the celebration, will hold rosary services and Masses throughout the Feast.
The most solemn religious observance comes at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, when a Solemn Mass will be celebrated. Afterward, the statue of the Virgin Mary will be carried through the streets in a procession, with festivalgoers following behind.
For many Clevelanders, even the non-religious, the Feast is known as a celebration of Italian food and culture.
Holy Rosary will serve cavatelli dinners and cannoli, while games, inflatables and other activities will add to the family-friendly festivities.
Restaurants and businesses along Mayfield and Murray Hill roads also will offer activities and food and drink specials during the four-day celebration.
Candles by Nine Lives Candle Co. are repurposed soy wax candles in vintage vessels.
Tara Seibel fine art on canvas paintings: Southern Italy, acrylic on canvas.
Cleveland Henna Artist, Kristina Haberek applies henna-style acrylic paint to a repurposed cigar box from the neighborhood’s smoke shop.Tara Seibel
Tara Seibel Art Gallery is holding a “First Night” party for art collectors at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13. Collectors are invited to call Tara Seibel at (216) 375-0760 to reserve a spot for the evening.
Seibel not only markets her work during the Feast, but also participates in it with her family.
“I’m Catholic, I go the festivities, to the church,” she said. “I like to see the procession. We go to mass. The Feast is amazing.”
Sarah Halko, who opened Aria Wine Bar on Mayfield Road just last week, is already in the spirit. She’s planning to offer Frosé (a rose wine slushie) and sangria for the event.
Live bands and other entertainment will keep the neighborhood busy throughout the weekend, giving visitors plenty of reasons to linger after they’ve eaten their way through the Feast.
For longtime Little Italy resident and Holy Rosary volunteer Paulette Colarochio the Feast is deeply personal. Born and raised in Little Italy until age 5, Colarochio moved away but returned 40 years ago and has lived there since. She remembers family celebrations at a grandmother’s house and watching both of her grandmothers walk in the procession.
“It was a day of devotion and family time,” she said.
Now retired, Colarochio volunteers at Holy Rosary Church during the event and walks in the procession in honor of grandparents and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The procession is an hour-plus walk through the streets. At stops along the route priests offer blessings.
For Colarochio the sounds of the Feast are part of memories. She recalls older women singing “the Maria songs” in Italian. As a young girl she called them that because it was the only word she understood.
On Sunday, as the Feast closes in twilight hours, Colarochio said a beautiful closing procession returns the statue of Mary to the church.
The celebration also serves an important purpose for Holy Rosary Church. Proceeds from the Feast help support the education of parish children attending Catholic schools, as well as the maintenance of the church’s buildings and grounds.
Hours of the Feast6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Aug.14 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16
For more information see the schedule at Holy Rosary Church.
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