89th Annual Feast of the Three Saints

When: Starts Friday August 31 at 6:30 p.m. and runs through Sunday September 2nd at 10:00 p.m.

Where: Common & Union Streets, Lawrence, MA.

Admission: Free admission and free parking.

Information: For more information go to www.threesaintsinc.org.

The Feast of the Three Saints in Lawrence celebrates its 89th year.

A Sicilian tradition brought to Lawrence by the St. Alfio Society, the Feast honors three brothers, St. Alfio, St. Filadelfo, and St. Cirino and includes a Torchlight Parade, Procession of the Saints, Italian food, amusements, kids carnival rides, games, and musical entertainment.

More than 100,000 people from across New England are expected to attend the 89th Annual Feast of the Three Saints this Labor Day weekend. Held in honor of St. Alfio, St. Filadelfo, and St. Cirino, brothers who were martyred for their faith almost 1,800 years ago, the Feast is both a religious festival and a celebration of Italian culture.

Each year the Feast offers Italian food, a Torchlight Parade, Procession of the Saints, musical entertainment, amusements, kids carnival rides, games and raffles. Festivities begin Friday August 31st at 6:30 p.m. with the opening ceremony at Lawrence City Hall on Common Street and a procession to Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church. The popular Beatles cover band, Beatle Juice will perform on the Main Bandstand at 9:00 p.m. while Coverslip, a dance band covering music of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and current music will perform on the Tripoli Stage.

Saturday afternoon entertainment on the Main Bandstand features local favorite Ski and the 99ers at 2:00 p.m. and BAZA blues band at 5:30 p.m. while on the Tripoli Stage Carmen Martino will perform at 2:00 p.m. and DJ Ralphie B. will entertain at 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon also features a cooking demonstration at 3:30 p.m. by the Next Food Network Star finalist and local restaurateur, Tommy Grella Jr.

Evening events on Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m. with the Torchlight Parade, when members of the St. Alfio Society and three marching bands honor the Three Saints. Cheers of “Viva St. Alfio!” will echo through the streets along with fireworks and the Cantata, a musical salute to the Saints. On the Tripoli Stage at 9:00 p.m. Introduction, a Chicago cover band will perform, while the Windham Community Band appears on the Main Bandstand.

The final day of the festival begins on Sunday with a Solemn Mass in honor of the Three Saints at Holy Rosary Church at 10:00 a.m. followed in the afternoon with the Procession of the Saints’ Statues through the Feast neighborhood starting at 3:00 p.m. at the church and completing with the traditional “Moment of Glory” Benediction and Cantata with fireworks, confetti and cheers of “Viva St. Alfio!” at 7:00 p.m. on Common Street. All proceeds from the procession are used for scholarships and to support non-profit organizations in the Greater Lawrence area.

Musical entertainment on Sunday features SoulMate at 3:45 p.m., Myley Davila at 6:00 p.m., and The Bel Airs “doo wop” band at 8:00 p.m. on the Tripoli Stage; with the Tom Dixon Band performing country sounds at 4:00 p.m. and the Italian singing sensation, Franco Corso, “The Voice of Romance” performing at 8:15 p.m. on the Main Bandstand.

Italian singing sensation, Franco Corso will perform two shows at the Feast of the Three Saints this Labor Day weekend. “If you love Andrea Bocelli, you will love Franco Corso” raves the New York Times.

Because of his crowd pleasing performances at the Fisherman’s Feast in Boston’s North End, the new Italian singing sensation Franco Corso has been scheduled for an additional performance at the upcoming Feast of the Three Saints in Lawrence.

His performances on Sunday September 2nd at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. will give Merrimack Valley residents an opportunity to preview the Corso sensation before his September 15th appearance at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston.

Born and raised in San Remo, Italy, Corso’s music is inspired by Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Dean Martin. He effectively transforms past Italian and American masterpieces into emotive modern treasures. Corso’s distinctive and powerful Baritone has been called elegant and provocative.

Corso’s performances cap off a weekend filled with live entertainment. Friday evening August 31 Coverslip dance band will entertain at 7:30 p.m. and the popular Beatles cover band, Beetle Juice takes the stage at 9:00 p.m.
On Saturday afternoon local favorite Ski and the 99ers appear on the bandstand at 2:00 p.m. followed by Baza blues band at 5:30 p.m., while the Tripoli stage presents Carmine Martino at 2:00 p.m. and DJ Ralpie B. at 5:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon also features a cooking demonstration at 3:30 p.m. by the Next Food Network Star finalist and local restaurateur, Tommy Grella Jr. Saturday night, the Chicago cover band, Introduction, entertains at 9:00 p.m. on the Tripoli stage while the Windham Community Band performs at 9:00 p.m. on the bandstand.

In addition to Franco Corso’s performances at 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the bandstand on Sunday, the Tripoli stage will present SoulMate at 3:45 p.m. and The Bel Airs will entertain with “doo-wop” tunes at 8:00 p.m. For more information and a full schedule of events go to: www.threesaintsinc.org.

For more information and a full schedule of events go to: www.threesaintsinc.org.