Carnival rides, Italian food draw crowds to Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove

Tina Pemberton of Glen Cove serves food at the Feast of St. Rocco in Glen Cove on Saturday. Credit: Rick Kopstein

The alluring scent of traditional Italian dishes filled the air in Glen Cove on Saturday, attracting a large crowd to the annual Feast of St. Rocco, now on its third day.

Heavenly Aromas and Delightful Flavors

A line extended out of the Church of St. Rocco's hall, known as the 'pasta pavilion,' where a group of dedicated Italian grandmothers, fondly referred to as the nonnas, dished up generous servings of eggplant Parmesan, tripe, pasta, and more. 'All about Tradition and Passion'

'We, the nonnas, come together to prepare. We craft the meatballs, slice the tripe, and bread the chicken cutlets,' explained Kathy DiSimone, 74, of Glen Cove, welcoming hungry visitors to the festival. 'It's truly a labor of love. We give back to the parish, express gratitude for God's blessings, and ensure everyone leaves with content stomachs and broad smiles.'

Family, Fun, and Faith

The four-day festival, now in its 49th year, kicked off on Thursday featuring a street fair, carnival rides, and games. The nonnas' culinary delights have earned them the title of 'The Best Feast in the East,' attracting around 150,000 attendees to this fundraising event for the church. 'An Italian Celebration Highlighting Togetherness'