Dozens of food vendors, amusement rides and a lively main stage are set to take over the Rio Las Vegas Convention Center parking lot starting Wednesday, as the San Gennaro Feast returns to Las Vegas for its 46th year. The five-day festival runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 and brings arts and crafts, live music, performances and a traditional Italian procession to the Strip-adjacent lot, marking a return to a decades-old Southern Nevada tradition.
A Festival Rooted in Family and Faith
Anthony Palmisano, president of San Gennaro Feast, Inc., said the event means a great deal to him personally, as reported by FOX5 Vegas. Palmisano said he is excited to share his love and Italian roots through the festival, according to the same report. The feast has been part of Las Vegas since 1980, when it was first brought to the city and has remained ever since, per eatmoreartvegas.com.
The festival has previously been held at the M Resort, with a page tied to the prior event listing a Sept. 18-22, 2024 run at that property, the outlet notes. This year's move places the celebration at the Rio Hotel & Casino, according to vegas24seven.com.
Procession, Rides and a Full Slate of Entertainment
A traditional Italian procession is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., featuring local dignitaries, a color guard and the Knights of Columbus, the outlet reports. The festival grounds will also host arts and crafts booths, home exhibits and amusement rides alongside a main stage lineup of live music and performances, per the same account.
In past years, the feast has drawn more than 90 international restaurants and food vendors and over 50 local artisans and crafters, according to eatmoreartvegas.com. Opening night hours for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 are set for 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., the site notes.
Tickets, Wristbands and Rules for Attendees
Presale single-day general admission is priced at $10, with children 54 inches and under admitted free of charge, the report states. Rides and food are sold separately, and each admission ticket is valid for just one day of the festival, according to riolasvegas.com.
Unlimited ride wristbands will be available throughout the run, and an opening-night special lets attendees buy one wristband and get a second at 50% off, per vegas24seven.com. Only service animals are permitted on the festival grounds, the same source notes.
The event is often described as a biannual Southern Nevada tradition celebrating Italian heritage, according to everyday.vegas. With the procession, food vendors and rides all set for the Rio lot this week, the feast marks another chapter for a celebration that has followed Las Vegas's Italian American community for more than four decades.
