(38) Visit 10 Festivals of Fairs (01/20)
Festival: St Mary of Carmen
Location: Hawthorn & Pellegrini Park’s
Location: Hawthorn & Pellegrini Park’s
Newton, MA
When: July 13 – 17, 2011
Rating: ê
This past weekend I enjoyed the St. Mary of Carmen Festival in the Nonantum neighborhood of Newton, MA known as The Lake.
The carnival like atmosphere was thanks to Fiesta Shows was enjoyable but overpriced. Many of the rides were clearly past their prime with rust and peeling paint. The tickets were grossly overpriced and the rides required too many tickets. $6.25 per person to go on a ride is way too much and I opted to pass.
The food was typical carnival with fried dough and french-fries to Greek gyro’s. What it seemed to be lacking was true Italian food. There were really only 2 booths that had such offerings. The one I choose DePasquale’s Sausages which was outside the park. DePasquales’ sweet sausage with peppers and onions was very tasty but a bit dry. That was expected given the outdoor grill and quantity being turned quickly for the long lines. They also offered fresh squeezed lemonade that complimented the tasty sausage sandwich.
This festival is clearly a neighborhood event and really only services those living in walking distance or nearby. Parking was impossible and the crowds were thick.
The Parade/Procession was a bit of a letdown as well. It was poorly organized and seemed focused more on the ringing bell being towed by a truck and the lighting of fireworks than anything else. The North End Marching Band did a nice job but was interrupted to regularly to light off more fireworks. The Mary Mother of Jesus statue seemed precariously perched on a rolling cart that seemed unsteady and in adequate and was being pushed by some of the older members instead of the young guys who seemed to focused on chatting and selling pins.
In summary it was an interesting even but isn’t worth the crowds for the overpriced rides, carnival food and lack luster procession. This is a PASS.
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