The San Gennaro Feast Is Back for Year 46, Through Sunday

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

Rio Las Vegas and San Gennaro Feast, Inc. announced that the 46th annual San Gennaro Feast would run five days, from Wednesday, Sept. 30 to Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The festival sits in the Rio Convention Center parking lot, one block off the Strip on Flamingo Road. That puts it on the west side of Interstate 15, which matters if you are coming from Spring Valley, Summerlin, or the southwest valley. You do not have to fight your way onto Las Vegas Boulevard to get there.

Here are the hours for each day, as posted by the Rio and the festival:

Wednesday, Sept. 30: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 1: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 2: 4 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, Oct. 3: 1 p.m. to midnight
Sunday, Oct. 4: 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

General admission is good for one day. During the presale, it cost $10. The festival's online ticket page, checked on Sept. 30, now lists a single-day adult ticket at $15 plus a $1.81 fee. Seniors 65 and older pay $12 plus a fee with ID, and so do active-duty military members with ID. Children 54 inches and under get in free. Anyone 55 inches or taller needs a ticket. Food, games, and ride tickets are all sold separately, so plan on spending more once you are inside.

If your kids want to ride everything, the feast sells unlimited ride wristbands. On opening night only, Wednesday, Sept. 30, you can buy one unlimited ride wristband and get a second one at 50 percent off. That is a good deal for families with two kids, or two parents who still like the rides.

The biggest tradition of the week is the procession. It happens Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., and it includes local dignitaries, a color guard, and the Knights of Columbus. Anthony Palmisano, president of San Gennaro Feast, Inc., told FOX5 Vegas, "This event means so much to me and my family." He added that he is excited to share his Italian roots in the heart of Las Vegas with food, cultural traditions, live entertainment, and family fun. Vincent Lentini, senior vice president of marketing at the Rio, called the festival "a staple in Las Vegas for both its hospitality and tradition."

One more rule to know: only service animals are allowed on the grounds. Leave the family dog at home.

A server holds a plate of an Italian dish topped with fresh mozzarella, red tomato sauce and a sprig of basil at the San Gennaro Feast

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Most big events in this town are built for visitors. The San Gennaro Feast is one of the few that locals have owned for more than four decades. It is a school-night and weekend kind of thing. You grab dinner, the kids ride a few rides, you hear some music, and you are home before bedtime. Or you stay until midnight on Friday or Saturday if you have the energy.

The price is a big part of the appeal. Free admission for kids 54 inches and under is rare for an event with carnival rides. A family of four with two young kids only needs two adult tickets to walk in the gate. You can then decide how much to spend on food and rides once you see what is there. That is a lot friendlier than a flat per-person ticket that includes everything whether you want it or not.

The food is the main reason most people go. The festival's website lists classics like sausage and peppers, cannoli, and zeppoles, plus vendors serving food from other cultures. In past years, the feast has drawn dozens of food vendors. When the feast was at the M Resort in 2023, News 3 reported more than 80 vendors on site. That kind of variety means even picky eaters can usually find something.

The location this year is also easy for a big part of the valley. The Rio sits on West Flamingo Road just west of I-15. For people in Spring Valley, Chinatown, the Lakes, and Summerlin, Flamingo is a straight shot east. For Henderson and Green Valley families, the trip is longer than it was when the feast was at the M Resort on the south end. That is worth knowing before you promise the kids a Friday night out.

Timing matters too. This is a busy weekend in Las Vegas. NASCAR's fall race weekend is at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from Oct. 2 to 4, and a lot of other fall festivals are happening around the valley. The San Gennaro Feast is in the middle of town, not up north near the Speedway, so it is a good pick if you want something closer to home. Just give yourself extra time on I-15 and Flamingo, especially Saturday afternoon and evening.

Background and History

San Gennaro, also called Saint Januarius, was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was put to death in the year 305 in Pozzuoli, near Naples, during a time when Christians were being persecuted. He became the patron saint of Naples, and his feast day on the church calendar is Sept. 19. That is why San Gennaro festivals tend to show up in September and early fall.

The best-known San Gennaro festival in America is on Mulberry Street in New York's Little Italy. It started in 1926 as a one-day religious event and grew into an 11-day street fair. The Grand Procession there carries a statue of San Gennaro from Most Precious Blood Church through the streets of the neighborhood. Street vendors sell sausages, zeppole, and other food, which is the same menu idea you will find at the Rio this week.

The Las Vegas feast has a direct family link to that New York tradition. According to a profile on Eat More Art Vegas, Giuseppe Palmisano came to America from Termini Imerese, Sicily, through Ellis Island and settled on Mulberry Street in 1903. His son, Vincent "Jimmy" Palmisano, started a San Gennaro Feast on Mulberry Street, took the idea to Florida in the 1970s, and then brought it to Las Vegas in 1980. Anthony Palmisano, Jimmy's great-nephew, is the third generation to run the event. It is still family-owned and operated by him today.

In its early years, the Las Vegas feast was held at the Italian American Club. The same profile says the early events brought in famous names such as Liberace, Jerry Vale, Pat Cooper, Ernest Borgnine, and Frankie Avalon. Since then the feast has moved around. KTNV reported that it was once held near Sunset Road and the 215 Beltway. FOX5 and News 3 reported it at the M Resort in Henderson in 2022 and 2023, after a two-year break during the pandemic. For a stretch, the feast was held twice a year, including a spring edition around Mother's Day. This year it is at the Rio, which FOX5 noted is a new home after the M Resort.

The lineup of extras has changed from year to year too. When FOX5 covered the 42nd feast in 2022, the festival had pony rides, a petting zoo, face painters, amusement rides, and a Sunday night fireworks show. In 2023, News 3 described it as one of the largest Italian-American festivals in the country, drawing thousands of visitors each year. This year's official materials focus on rides, games, face painters, arts and crafts vendors, live music, and food. If a specific extra matters to your family, check the festival's website before you go.

Prices have shifted over the years as well. In 2022 and 2023, FOX5 and News 3 listed adult admission at $15, with kids under 54 inches free. This year's $10 presale price was a little lower for those who bought early, while the current online price matches that $15 level.

What Happens Next

The feast runs five days, and each day feels a little different. Wednesday and Thursday are the shorter evening days, open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday is the night for the wristband deal. Thursday has the procession at 7 p.m. If you want to see the most traditional part of the festival, Thursday is your night.

Friday stays open until midnight, and Saturday runs the longest, from 1 p.m. to midnight. Weekends at the feast are usually the busiest. If you want shorter lines for food and rides, try to arrive right when the gates open. Sunday is the last day, open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is a good pick for families who want an afternoon visit before the school week starts again.

Tickets are sold online through the Rio's website and the festival's website, and at the gate. General admission is for one day only. There was no multi-day pass listed on the ticket page when we checked. If you plan to go more than once, you will need a ticket for each visit.

After Sunday, the feast packs up for another year. Keep an eye on the festival's website and local news next year for the 47th edition. Based on how often the event has moved, the location and dates may change again, so do not assume it will be at the Rio in 2027.

Ryan's Take

I love events like this because they show what Las Vegas is like for the people who actually live here. Visitors see the Strip. Locals see the fall festivals, the school carnivals, the church fundraisers, and a family-run Italian feast that has been going since 1980. When I help people move here, especially families from California or the East Coast, one of their biggest questions is whether Vegas has a real community. Events like San Gennaro are part of my answer. It has 46 years of history, a Thursday night procession, and a lot of neighbors eating cannoli in a parking lot.

The location is also a reminder of how central the Rio area really is. From West Flamingo, you are close to Spring Valley, Chinatown, and the Lakes, and not far from Summerlin or the southwest valley. That central spot is a big reason why so many people who work on or near the Strip look at homes on the west side of I-15. If you are house hunting and wondering what a neighborhood feels like on a weekend, going to local events like this is a great way to find out.

What You Can Do

If you want to go, here is a simple plan. First, pick your day. Go Wednesday for the wristband deal, Thursday at 7 p.m. for the procession, or Saturday afternoon if you want the most time. Second, buy your tickets online ahead of time through the Rio's website or SanGennaroFeast.com, or buy at the gate. Remember that kids 54 inches and under are free, so measure your little ones before you buy tickets for them.

Third, bring a budget for food and rides. Admission gets you in, but everything else costs extra. If your kids want to ride a lot, the unlimited wristband is usually the better deal than buying single ride tickets. Fourth, give yourself extra drive time. Flamingo Road near I-15 gets busy, and this is a big weekend in town with NASCAR and several other fall events going on.

A few small things make the night easier. The feast is outdoors in a parking lot, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Early October evenings in Las Vegas can still be warm at 4 p.m. and cool off after dark, so a light layer helps if you plan to stay late. Bring water for the kids, and pick a meeting spot in case anyone gets separated in the crowd. If you are going Thursday for the procession, get there a little early so you have time to find parking, buy food, and grab a good spot before 7 p.m.

Finally, if you are new to Las Vegas, treat this as a chance to meet people. Say hello to the vendors, stay for the music, and watch the procession if you can. The festival has been part of local life here for more than four decades, and it is one of the easiest ways to feel like part of the community.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com