Little Italy Hosts The Feast This Weekend: See the Schedule

Little Italy will host its biggest event of the year: The 2023 Feast of the Assumption kicks off this weekend and runs through early next week, Aug. 12-15.

by Annie Nickoloff , Anthony Elder | Aug. 9, 2023 | 4:31 PM

Courtesy Erik Drost via Flickr

Find the 2024 schedule here.

Get ready to feast at this year's Feast of the Assumption, taking place Aug. 12-15 in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood. The event, now in its 124th year, will showcase the Catholic holy day honoring the assumption of Mary.

It's also a major food festival, showcasing the eateries in Cleveland's cultural neighborhood. Mayfield Road will shut down and welcome hordes of hungry Clevelanders with rows of outdoor booths serving pasta, cannoli, cheese and other Italian delicacies. (If you want a taste, check out our guide to the neighborhood's restaurants.)

Also expect carnival rides, games, music performances and other fun at this year's fest — along with religious events, all centered around the historic Holy Rosary Church. Here's the full schedule, compiled by the church:

2023 Feast of the Assumption Schedule of Events:
Saturday, Aug. 12
Noon-midnight: Churchyard stands open (food, inflatables and games)
5 p.m.-midnight: Casino open in church hall (lower level of the church)
1-5 p.m.: Entertainment in churchyard: Run Avril Run
7-11 p.m.: Entertainment in churchyard: Nick Costa
7:30 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Primavera Ban
8:30-10:30 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Italian Band of Cleveland

Sunday, Aug. 13

Noon-11 p.m.: Churchyard stands open (food, inflatables and games)1-5 p.m.: Entertainment: The Avanti Band
5-10 p.m.: Casino open in church hall (lower level of the church)
7-10 p.m.: Entertainment: Swamp Boogie Band
7 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Primavera Band and Choral Group
8:30-10 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Italian Band of Cleveland

Monday, Aug. 14

6-11 p.m.: Churchyard stands open (food, inflatables and games)
6-10 p.m.: Casino open in church hall (lower level of the church)
6-10 p.m.: Entertainment in churchyard
7 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Primavera Band
8:30-10:30 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Italian Band of Cleveland
Tuesday, Aug. 15 (Feast Day)
Noon-10 p.m.: Churchyard stands open (food, inflatables and games)
10 a.m.: Solemn Mass
11:15 a.m. (approximately): Solemn Procession through Little Italy streets
11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Cavatelli dinner in church hall
1-5 p.m.: Entertainment: The GoodFellos
7 p.m.: Entertainment on Mayfield Road: Primavera Band
9 p.m.: Candlelight Procession on Mayfield Road, Closing Prayer Service and Raffle
Mass Schedule, Aug. 12-15
Aug. 12, 4 p.m.: Mass (Vigil Mass for Sunday)
Aug. 13, 8:30 a.m.: Mass
Aug. 13, 11 a.m.: Mass
Aug. 13, 8 p.m.: Mass
Aug. 14, 12:15 p.m.: Mass
Aug. 14, 5:30 p.m.: Vigil Mass for the Feast Day
Aug. 15, 8 a.m.: Mass
Aug. 15, 10 a.m.: Solemn Mass, followed by procession
Aug. 15, noon: Mass
Aug. 15, 7 p.m.: Mass, followed by night procession and closing prayer service
Aug. 12, 13, 14 and 15 at 6 p.m.: The Rosary is prayed at an outdoor shrine in church piazza on Coltman Road
Get ahead of the weekend by signing up for our free weekly “In the CLE” newsletter — your guide to fun throughout The Land. Arriving in your inbox every Wednesday, this weekend to-do list fills you in on everything from concerts to museum exhibits — and more. Click here to subscribe.

Annie Nickoloff

Annie Nickoloff is the senior editor of Cleveland Magazine. She has written for a variety of publications, including The Plain Dealer, Alternative Press Magazine, Belt Magazine, USA Today and Paste Magazine. She hosts a weekly indie radio show called Sunny Day on WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland and enjoys frequenting Cleveland's music venues, hiking trails and pinball arcades.

Little Italy Hosts The Feast This Weekend: See the Schedule

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