San Rocco is the saint invoked against plague, and Italian immigrant communities here have carried his statue through the streets every August for well over a century — this is the 137th consecutive year. The procession works through the blocks around Baxter Street with a brass band, banners and offerings pinned to the statue's ribbons. If you want the Little Italy that is still a devotional community rather than a restaurant row, come for this.
What to expect
The statue leaves its church and moves slowly through the surrounding streets, stopping frequently while people come out to pin offerings and touch the ribbons. A band plays the whole route and the pace is a walk, so following along is easy. The neighborhood streets are narrow — expect to be close to the procession rather than watching from a distance.
Good to know
- Take the 6, J/Z or N/Q/R/W to Canal St; the route runs through the blocks around Baxter Street.
- Free and open to the public — this is a street procession, not a ticketed event.
- It is a religious procession first and a spectacle second; keep respectful distance from the statue bearers.
- The streets are narrow and the route stops often, so following on foot is easy.
- Chinatown and Little Italy restaurants are immediately around the route for after.
- Street-level and flat, though crowds can make the sidewalks tight.
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Common questions
What is the Feast of St Rocco?
An Italian-American devotional feast honoring San Rocco, the saint invoked against plague, marked by a street procession carrying his statue.
Where does it happen?
Through the streets around 113 Baxter Street on the Little Italy and Chinatown border in Manhattan.
How old is the tradition?
This is billed as the 137th annual edition, making it one of the oldest surviving Italian-American feasts in Manhattan.
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