Your Guide: Celebrating Italian Heritage in Somerville and East Cambridge

Although the festival lasts two days, the highlight of the Italian Feast of the Healing Saints Cosmas and Damian is the grand procession that takes place on Sunday afternoon.

Members of the Saints Cosmas and Damian Society parade through the streets of East Cambridge and Somerville carrying statues of the saints. They're accompanied by bands and floats, and they walk slowly through the neighborhoods, stopping occasionally to let people pin money to the statues and show their respect.

The society's building, at 17 Porter St. in Cambridge, is right on the border of Somerville. According to an assessor's map, the building next door is in Somerville.

The grand procession begins at 1 p.m., but there's an entire weekend of eating, dancing and celebrating.

James Massone, a finalist on NBC's "The Voice," will perform Saturday night, and a host of other singers, including a doo-wop group, will also make appearances, along with emcees from 105.7 FM, 106.7 FM and 104.1 FM.

Oh, right, there's also a cannoli eating contest, at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.

In all, there are feasts and festivities Saturday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

You can check out the whole schedule here.