Camillo: St. Roch’s Feast in Chickahominy Is “a Great Boost”

On Thursday the Greenwich Board of Selectmen approved a road closure for the annual St Roch feast!

The road closure for St Roch Ave between Alexander Street and Hamilton Ave for the nights of August 11, 12, 13 and 14. The event is nightly from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.

Last year there was a shortened “mini version” of the feast.

Event organizer Paul Cappiali said during the pandemic in 2020, St Roch was the only parish in the state of Connecticut to hold its feast.

“We thought it was important because St Roch is the patron saint of contagious diseases and people have been praying to St Roch for thousands of years to ease their suffering and pain from their losses as it relates to pandemics,” Cappiani said. “We were able to put on what had been called the most compliant, safest possible feast in a pandemic area with social distancing, reservations only and state food certified safe chefs to do what our volunteers normally did.”

“This comes every year. It is a great boost,” Camillo said of the annual feast. “We’re all looking forward to having some pizza frittes.”

Screen Shot 2014-08-09 at 8.52.51 PM
St Roch Ave is closed in the evenings for several nights every August for the St Roch feast.

The four night feast features live music every night. Hosted by St. Roch parish the popular event is a longtime tradition. Fans of the family friendly festival anticipate rides and games. Head to the area of St. Roch Church and Hamilton Avenue School where the air will be punctuated with smells of sausage & peppers and pizza fritte. There is also a beer and wine garden.

fried dough
Powdered suggar added to a Pizza fritte at St Roch feast.
St Roch Ave is closed in the evenings for several nights every August for the St Roch feast.
Screen Shot 2014-08-09 at 8.38.25 PM

Screen Shot 2014-08-09 at 8.43.50 PM
Games of skill and chance at the St. Roch Festival Aug 12, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager