50th Annual Feast Of Mother Cabrini To Return To LI On Friday

BRENTWOOD, NY — Long Island's largest Italian festival is returning this weekend.

The 50th Great Feast Of Mother Cabrini will take place Aug. 25 to Aug. 27 and Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood.

The milestone celebration will feature food, rides, live music and fireworks for the whole family to enjoy.

It will also host a Zeppole eating contest on Sept. 2 and an exclusive fireworks display by Special FX Wizard on Aug. 26 and Sept. 3. In addition, there will be a delicious food promenade stretching for a quarter mile.

Once again, the festival will feature Read and Ride days on Aug. 25 and Sept. 4., where children are able to earn a discounted unlimited ride bracelet. To be eligible, students in grades kindergarten through eight must read and summarize two books approved by a parent or teacher (children ages six and under may draw a picture that describes the book).

To receive the discount, they must bring the completed form to the ticket booth on those days. Only one form per child is allowed and the child must be present to receive the bracelet. Photocopies are not permitted.

“It’s important for children to develop their reading skills, even in the summer,” says Mike Newton, President, Newton Shows. “We’re proud to support a program that encourages both reading and fun.”

In addition to the Read and Ride program, the Feast of Mother Cabrini partners with a local charity each year to help raise money for their cause. On Aug. 31, the Feast is teaming up with Island Harvest, a volunteer non-profit hunger relief organization committed to restocking the dwindling shelves of local food pantries, soup kitchens, safe homes and shelters.

To take part in this initiative, patrons are encouraged to bring two or more cans of food to the Feast and couple it with a POP Ride Bracelet purchase. They will then be able to get another bracelet for 50 percent off, all while giving back to local communities.

The complete dates and times for the Feast of Mother Cabrini are as follows:

• Friday, Aug. 25 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 26 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 27 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 1 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 2 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 3 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 4 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Event sponsors include the Offices of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Legislator Manuel Esteban Sr. The feast’s media sponsors are WALK Radio (97.5 FM), WKJY Radio (“K-Joy” 98.3 FM), 94.3 FM “The Shark,” WBON Radio (“La Fiesta” 98.3 FM), WBZO Radio (103.1 FM) and WHLI Radio (104.7 FM and 1100 AM).

To purchase ride wristbands, click here. For more information on the Feast of Mother Cabrini, visit its website here.