Thousands of visitors gathered at St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside over four days in June as the parish celebrated its 57th annual St. Anthony’s Feast, continuing a decades-long tradition that blends community, entertainment and fundraising.
Held June 11-14 on the church grounds at 80 Anchor Ave., the annual festival featured carnival rides and games, live music, food booths staffed by parish volunteers, specialty food trucks, a beer and wine garden, homemade zeppole, raffles and the popular St. Anthony’s Feast 5K and Kids Dash.
Feast Chairman Tom Cesiro said attendance remained strong throughout the event, with thousands of people visiting each day.
“It was extremely crowded,” Cesiro said. “You see people you went to school with who come back to the feast because they know about it. It’s like a family reunion.”
The celebration is one of Oceanside’s longest-running annual traditions, drawing not only local residents but former community members who return each year to reconnect with friends and neighbors.
The festival grounds were divided into separate sections, with rides and games on one side and food and entertainment on the other. While the layout remained the same each day, visitors enjoyed a different live band every evening, along with a DJ who performed throughout the weekend.
Planning for the feast is nearly a yearlong process. Even as organizers wrap up this year’s expenses, preparations for next year are already underway.
“We start planning now,” Cesiro said. “We look at what worked, what didn’t work and how we can improve.”
Next year’s feast will also mark the first under the leadership of the parish’s new pastor, Father Christopher Costigan, who grew up in Oceanside and is already familiar with the tradition. Cesiro said the two have already confirmed dates for next year’s event.
More than 500 volunteers helped make this year’s feast possible. Church ministries operated the food booths, while volunteers also handled security and other responsibilities. A steering committee of about a dozen people coordinates the event, with booth captains overseeing teams that can range from a dozen to 30 volunteers each.
Despite a brief period of rain on Friday evening and lower attendance Saturday night during a New York Knicks playoff game, Cesiro said the event ran smoothly. Organizers opened parish buildings so guests could stay dry, and volunteers had the grounds operating again within about 30 minutes after the rain ended. The game was also shown on multiple televisions and a large screen for attendees.
Beyond providing entertainment, the feast serves as the parish’s largest annual fundraiser.
“Everything goes back to the parish,” Cesiro said.
As organizers evaluate the event, they will also review the performance of a new carnival ride company that debuted this year, along with potential additions to future food offerings.
For Cesiro, however, the feast’s greatest success remains the sense of community it creates.
“It’s a reunion,” he said. “Everybody comes back into town and comes to the feast.”
