Buona Festa! St. Mary of Carmen Society goes loud and proud for 91st Italian-American Festival

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Fireworks fill Adams Street with smoke with the Procession of the Madonna through Nonantum during the St. Mary of Carmen Society's 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Thousands of attendees gathered Sunday for the final day of Festa, a yearly celebration of Italian-American culture and community in Nonantum.

The St. Mary of Carmen Society Annual Festival, as it is officially titled, was held at Pellegrini Park from Wednesday to Sunday. The event featured live music, carnival games and rides, and county-fair style fried food, pizza and burgers—but also gnocchi and Italian ice.

Richard Sauro, a society member whose grandfather helped start the festival in the 1930s, has taken part in the event’s organization since 1985. At Sunday’s celebration, he wore his grandfather’s old badge, original to the early days of Festa.

“It’s traditional. It has a lot to do with this neighborhood,” he said. “We try to make sure there’s enough young people to keep it going because it’s generational.”

Sauro said the society raised $7,000 in college scholarships following last year’s celebration. The organization is also awarding scholarships this year.

Born and raised in Newton, Al Depasquale lives across the street from Pellegrini Park and comes almost every year to check out the festivities.

“I was going to walk through and see what was here, that’s what I usually do,” he said. “I take one trip around [the park] on the last day.”

Jiayi, a mom from Mansfield, told the Newton Beacon she and her husband enjoy going to carnivals in the area and have taken their son to Festa before.

“We like these kinds of carnivals. We come out every summer, normally like two to three times,” she said.

At 10 p.m., Sauro and other society members rolled a large statue of the Madonna decorated with money and flowers down Adams Street to the Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Washington Street. Many attendees carrying candles followed behind.

Along the parade route, a spectacular fireworks show lit up the sky above Nonantum. Outside the church, red, green and white confetti—marking the Italian flag’s colors—rained down on the crowd. Rose petals were thrown onto the statue of the Madonna. Organizers then returned the statue to the church, after which a service was held.

MORE IMAGES

Left to right: City Councilors Tarik Lucas, John Oliver and Pam Wright attend the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Maxime Isaac welcomes visitors to the Village Bank table at the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

School Committee member Arrianna Proia takes photos of her father, Chuck Proia, on stage during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival Chairman Chuck Proia and President Frank Battista speak to the crowd at the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

St. Mary of Carmen Society Vice President Carl Pasquarosa speaks to the crowd at the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

The carnival’s mechanical bull operator enjoys a ride during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 17, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Left to right: Mayor Marc Laredo, City Councilor Maria Greenberg, City Councilor Alison Leary, City Councilor Tarik Lucas, State Rep. John Lawn and City Councilor Julia Malakie gather for the Procession of the Madonna during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A parade moves through Nonantum during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A man hugs his friend in the middle of the Procession of the Madonna through Nonantum during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of the St. Mary of Carmen Society prepare the Virgin Mary statue for a parade through Nonantum during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

St. Mary of Carmen Society President Frank Battista marches with the North End Marching Band during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Arrianna Proia photographs the Procession of the Madonna through Nonantum during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of the St. Mary of Carmen Society push the Virgin Mary statue through Nonantum during 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A 94-year-old Nonantum woman, Antonia Visco wanted to march in the Procession of the Madonna, so her loved ones helped her out. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Left to right: City Councilors Sean Roche, Maria Greenberg and Cyrus Dahmubed march in the Procession of the Madonna during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

City Council President John Oliver, left, and Teresa Sauro of the St. Mary of Carmen Society march in the Procession of the Madonna through Nonantum during 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

A young man enjoys a cigar while marching during 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of the St. Mary of Carmen Society push the Virgin Mary statue through Nonantum during 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Fireworks light up Nonantum during the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of the St. Mary of Carmen Society watch as fireworks light up the sky over Nonantum during the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Fireworks light up Nonantum during the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Members of the St. Mary of Carmen Society push the Virgin Mary statue down Adams Street to the Our Lady of Help Church at the end of the 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle

Our Lady of Help Church in Nonantum lit up with fireworks during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s 91st Italian-American Festival on July 19, 2026. Photo by Bryan McGonigle