A seven-decades-old Bensonhurst tradition has again been sustained at the 11th hour.
The organizers of the Festa di Santa Rosalia, a 10-day street festival and celebration of Italian edibles — have resolved a series of glitches involving street-closure permits and tax documents that had to be filed with the city, enabling them to carry on the feast that was nearly cancelled for the second time in three years.
“I’m so very happy that we can continue doing this,” said Angelo Timoreni, the accountant for Figli di Santa Rosalia, the newly constituted organization that restored the festival last year after it was canceled because of similar paperwork issues in 2011.
“It represents a strong community tradition,” he added. “I want my kids to be able to enjoy it, and I wish it can go on forever.”
The festival, named after the patron saint of Palermo, Italy, where it originated, will kick off Thursday. A stretch along 18th Ave., between 68th St. and Bay Ridge Ave. will be closed every day from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for residents to enjoy treats offered by more than 100 vendors, including sausages and peppers, cannoli and Italian-style octopus.
Angela Alaimo, whose family owns the Villabate Alba bakery, which has participated in the festival since its inception, said, “This is a way for older Italian families who used to live here to get to meet everyone in the neighborhood, and it is just a great way to end the summer.”
Alaimo, 42, has spent her whole life in the neighborhood, and says the festival is one of the few remnants of Italian-American life in the neighborhood.
The neighborhood’s Italian population has been dwindling over the last decade, as Chinese and Russian immigrants have been moving in, but Alaimo says it is good for members of different communities to live in proximity and interact with one another.
Timoreni says he can’t comment on exactly what led to the cancellation in 2011, but assures that there are a new group of people working on the festival, and ensuring it will continue without any hiccups.
“We are a brand new face now,” said Timoreni. “I believe everything will go on smoothly from now.”
Festa di Santa Rosalia, 18th Ave. between 68th St. and Bay Ridge Parkway, Aug. 22 through Sept. 1, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
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