Faith and heritage endure at St. Paul’s Italian Festival in Erie’s Little Italy
By Allison Mosier08/25/2025
Every August, Erie’s Little Italy comes alive with the sights, smells and sounds of one of the city’s most cherished traditions: the St. Paul’s Italian Festival. More than a weekend of food and music, the festival is a living witness to the faith and family spirit carried into this neighborhood by Italian immigrants over a century ago.
The heartbeat of the festival is not the buildings that surround it, but the people who make it possible. More than 200 volunteers dedicate months of preparation so that, for three days, thousands can gather to share in heritage and devotion. Their work is a labor of love, transforming ordinary ingredients and ordinary hours into an extraordinary celebration of community.
The numbers alone tell the story: 13,100 meatballs, 6,000 pizzelles, 10,000 cookies, 500 pounds of sausage, 1,600 small pizzas, 1,200 pieces of lovers cake, 2,400 cannolis and 36,000 napkins, all prepared, counted and served with care. Italian flags line the street, while tables overflow with food, games and keepsakes, including shirts and other items that carry the festival spirit home.
Yet, even as the food draws the crowds, it is faith that anchors the weekend. On Sunday morning, the community gathers for the most important moment of the festival: the 11 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Lawrence T. Persico. This liturgy honors the Italian families whose faith shaped the neighborhood and continues to inspire today. It is a chance to give thanks for the endurance of tradition, for the sacrifices of past generations and for the volunteers who ensure the legacy continues.
Following Mass, the Procession of the Blessed Mother winds through the streets of Little Italy, just as it has for decades. Parishioners and visitors alike join in, praying and singing as they accompany the statue of Mary past homes and festival tents. It is a powerful image of devotion, connecting the neighborhood’s history to the present day, a reminder that faith is carried not only in churches but also in the streets and in the hearts of the faithful.
For those who come to eat, dance or shop, the festival offers plenty of joy. But beneath the plates of pasta, the laughter of children and the swirl of Italian music lies something more lasting: the strength of a community rooted in faith. The endurance of the festival, made possible by the hands and hearts of its volunteers, is itself a witness to the values that have defined Little Italy for generations, family, devotion and love of God.
In the end, St. Paul’s Italian Festival is more than an event. It is a tradition kept alive by people who believe in their heritage and in one another. Year after year, their work ensures that faith continues to flourish on the streets of Erie’s Little Italy.
View photos from the Mass and procession here.
-