Italian food, live music, fireworks and prayer: religion and a classic fair are joining together at this year's annual Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy.
For the 121st year, Holy Rosary Church hosts the annual celebration this week. The festival begins Thursday, following a solemn mass commemorating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, a Catholic Holy Day that honors Mary being brought into Heaven.
Throughout the event, Holy Rosary Church will hold mass 10 times, and people can pray the rosary each day at 6 p.m. at a shrine outside the church. A candlelight procession for Mary is also planned for Sunday evening.
The festival's agenda is packed with much more than prayer, too. The churchyard will be filled with booths selling Italian food and desserts as well as entertaining bands and choral groups and amusement park rides. A casino is also being set up in the lower level of the church. The festivities conclude with fireworks Sunday night.
The festival runs Thursday (noon to 11 p.m.), Friday (6 p.m. to midnight), Saturday (noon to midnight) and Sunday (noon to 11 p.m.).
Check out everything we saw at last year's festival here, and view a detailed schedule of events here.
Holy Rosary Church is located at 12021 Mayfield Road.
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Feast of the Assumption Returns to Little Italy This Week for 121st Celebration
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