JULY 16 Saturday - FEAST DAY
Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Procession
4pm
Get the best view from Bellevue Ave. Take a seat and enjoy the procession of Saints.
JIM DONIO Posted this HELPFUL INFORMATION on FACEBOOK:
As we get closer to the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, I wanted to post some information. July 16th has been an important holiday in Hammonton for 147 years. The Mt. Carmel Festival is the longest running Italian Festival in America and is run by the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society. Based in Hammonton, this festival was first celebrated on Pine Road by Italian immigrants in 1875 to thank the Virgin Mary for their safe journey to America, for a successful farming season, and for the blessings and good fortune found in their new home of Hammonton. It later moved to Lake Park and ultimately settled into its current location, around St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Some people from Hammonton call it “The Feast,” “The Festival,” “Feast Week,” “Festival Week,” “The 16th,” “16th of July,” “Mt. Carmel,” “The Carnival” and some people from out of town even call it “The Fair”. Whatever you call it, it’s a very special and important week in our Town.
Each year, the Festival dates range a bit. This year, most food stands, beer gardens, entertainment, carnival rides and games will run from Monday, July 11th through Saturday, July 16th.
Here are some tips:
Kick-Off the Feast with the Sons of Italy located on 3rd Street on Sunday 7/10 from 1 PM to 7 PM. Spaghetti & meatballs, cash bar, open to the public. Dinner is $15.
Brown Stand - Run by the Mt. Carmel Society, at Mt. Carmel Lane (Tilton Street): Offering Italian-American food, beer and 2 stages with different types of entertainment. (Open for Lunch from 11 AM to 1:30 PM and Dinner from 5 PM until Closing on Weekdays Monday 7/11 through Friday 7/15 and open all day for lunch and dinner on Saturday 7/16 from 11 AM to Closing.
www.mountcarmelsociety.org
Red Stand - Run by St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish, adjacent to St. Joseph Church on 3rd Street: Offering Italian-American Food, Spanish Food, Desserts, a beer & wine garden and a stage with entertainment, along with vendors. (Open for dinner only Monday 7/11 through Friday 7/15 from 5 PM to 11 PM and lunch & dinner Saturday 7/16 from 11 AM to 11 PM.)
www.smmcp.net
Blue Stand - Run by the Assumption Society, on the edge of the Carnival Grounds on 3rd Street: Offering Italian-American Food. There is also an adjacent Assumption Clam Stand, offering raw and steamed clams. (Open for Lunch and Dinner Saturday 7/9 through Saturday 7/16 from 11 AM to 11 PM and Sunday 7/17 from 11 AM to 5 PM.)
Sons of Italy, located on 3rd Street:
Offering indoor and outdoor beer gardens, feast traditions like homemade meatballs, famous red roast beef, and sausage and peppers. The public is welcome and there will be live music on Friday 7/15 & DJ on Saturday 7/16. (Open Friday 7/15 from 5 PM to 11 PM and on Saturday 7/16 from 10 AM to 11 PM.)
Various Independently Operated Tents, Booths and Stands, Along 3rd Street, French Streets and on the Carnival Grounds: Includes Italian Ice, Ice Cream, Cannoli, Funnel Cake, Italian, Spanish, American & Carnival-Style Food, along with Merchandise Vendors. (Open during various dates and times Monday 7/11 through Saturday 7/16.)
Some of the food and beverage stands and other vendors accept credit and debit cards and there are temporary ATM’s set up near the Church and at other locations, but it is best to come prepared with enough cash for all or most of your purchases.
The Amusements of America Carnival runs from Monday 7/11 through Saturday 7/16 and is open from 6 PM to 11 PM each night. Discounted advance tickets are available in books as a pre-purchase by texting 609-415-8151 and at local shops or you can purchase regular priced tickets at the Carnival on each night. (Wristband nights are on Tuesday 7/12, Wednesday 7/13 & Thursday 7/14. Pay $30 and ride all night on this dates only.)
The Procession, which is run by the Mt. Carmel Society, is always held on July 16th and starts at 4 PM on Saturday, 7/16 in front of St. Joseph Church and runs along 3rd Street to Fairview Avenue, then to Egg Harbor Road to Bellevue Avenue, along the railroad tracks, then along Bellevue Avenue to 3rd Street and back to the Church. The Procession generally passes through Downtown Hammonton around 5 PM. The Procession ends at approximately 6 PM at St. Joseph Church on 3rd Street. Various roads will be shut down in and around Downtown later in the day.
Loud firework/cannon sounds will be exploded every hour on the hour to commemorate the celebration beginning at 8 AM on July 16th and each time the Procession turns a corner on its route, along with at other times. Please be aware this will occur all day and make preparations.
Candle Shrine is open inside St. Joseph Church throughout the Festival.
Mass Schedule on Saturday 7/16:
8 AM - Mt. Carmel Society Mass
10 AM - Italian Language Mass
12 PM - Spanish Language Mass
2 PM (Before the Procession)
6 PM (After the Procession)
Fireworks are shot off in Downtown on Saturday 7/16 at 10 PM and most will be visible from the Carnival Grounds.
The overall Festival is located between Third Street and Mt. Carmel Lane/Tilton Street, Pleasant Street to Pratt Street. If you put 298 Tilton Street in your GPS, is will take you to Mt. Carmel Society Hall.
Walk or bike to the Festival each night, if you can. Free parking along the streets leading up to and surrounding the Church or Carnival Grounds where parking is allowed. Please follow signs posted by Police throughout town to know which portions of streets you can and cannot park on.
Free parking is also available in some lots Downtown. Paid parking is available in some private parking lots near the Church and Carnival Grounds. Follow the “Event Parking” signs and park for free at the Hammonton Middle School on Liberty Street and take a free jitney shuttle to and from the Festival. (Free shuttles operate Monday 7/11 through Friday 7/15 from 6 PM to 11 PM and Saturday 7/16 from 4 PM to 11 PM.)
(For those that don’t know, that means “Happy Feast Day” or “Good Party.”)
