The 82nd Annual Feast of Saint Rocco Opens

Almost like clockwork, the skies opened and the rain poured down signaling the start of the Feast of Saint Rocco.

This is the 82nd year that the Feast is taking place on lower Main Street and despite the opening day rain members of the Society of Saint Rocco were busy running from vendor to vendor helping everyone settle into the feast for the next five days.

The Feast of Saint Rocco is an established tradition in Fort Lee, a fact not taken lightly by Society of Saint Rocco president, Sal Luppino. “I’ll work as hard as I can to make this feast a success. I’m carrying on the tradition of our grandfathers; the tradition of Fort Lee. I know what this feast means to people and I’m honored to be a part of keeping this tradition alive.”

And alive it is. For the next five days Martha Washington Way will be closed to traffic and transformed into a midway lined with a variety of vendors and games of chance.

Pasta lovers beware! This year the feast welcomes new vendor Pasta al Minuto. Like the name suggests, Pasta al Minuto offers homemade fresh pasta from flour to plate in less than five minutes with a choice of four sauces: Sausage and Pepper Ragu, Classic Marinara, Pesto, and Peperanato.

Jay Dellacona, who worked his way up in the catering industry from busboy to owner, partnered with Joe Dipolato and Dominick Tesoriero to form Pasta al Minuto. Knowing that the only way to achieve success in this industry is to build a following by bringing your product directly to the people, they hit the road to visit as many street fairs and feasts as possible, as well as offering in-home pasta parties.  

“Marketing and websites are great, but if you don’t get out there and let people taste what you’re making you’ll never make it in this business,” Dellacona said. “It’s the only way.”

Other tents lining the midway include 101.1 WCBS F.M. whose tent is sandwiched between Johnny Meatballs on a Roll and The Fort Lee Historical Society. Talking to WCBS was D.J. Christine Vitale from F.D.U.’s The Group Harmony Alley who came to check out the feast.

Unafraid of getting soaked by a little driving rain, Fort Lee Rotary Club member and Assembly Candidate Keith Jensen was busy preparing the Rotary Club’s sign. You can stop by and meet the members of the Rotary Club on Saturday and learn more about all the local causes they support.

Jensen, who attended School No. 4, the Middle School, and is an alumni of Fort Lee High School’s Class of 1991, served nine years in the army before coming back home to Fort Lee and joining the Rotary Club.

Headlining the entertainment for opening night was Fort Lee’s favorite comedian, Uncle Floyd. However, shortly before he was scheduled to take the stage the rains turned torrential and the Society cancelled the feast for the night. A quintessential performer, Uncle Floyd put on a show for everyone huddled beneath the Historical Society tent with him.

“Hire me and I can make it rain,” Uncle Floyd said with a smile as wide as his outstretched arms. “In fact, I’m booked for Texas next week—I heard it’s been a little dry down there.”

The Feast of Saint Rocco is running through Sunday and the local weather forecasts are predicting much better weather. The annual parade of the Statue of Saint Rocco through the streets of West Fort Lee will take place on Sunday at 5 p.m.