If your idea of the perfect end-of-summer weekend involves zeppoles, live music, carnival rides and a whole lot of Italian food, Scotch Plains has you covered.
The 52nd Annual St. Bart’s/UNICO Italian Festival returns this Labor Day weekend, Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, bringing four days of food, music, rides, games and Italian-American tradition to Scotch Plains.
And perhaps the best part? Admission is free.
A Jersey Tradition More Than 50 Years in the Making
This isn’t a new festival—St. Bart’s has been doing it since 1974.
Hosted by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Chapter of UNICO, St. Bartholomew’s Church and St. Bartholomew Academy, the festival honors San Nicola di Bari, patron saint of Montazzoli, Italy. Over the years, it has grown into a beloved Labor Day weekend tradition for families throughout the area.
Think classic neighborhood Italian feast: people gathering around tables, kids heading for the rides, music playing and the smell of something delicious coming from pretty much every direction.
Let’s Talk About the Food
Come hungry.
Festival favorites include pizza, pasta, sausage sandwiches, calzones, clams, mussels and, of course, zeppoles. You’ll also find plenty of other sweet festival treats, including cannoli, Italian ice, funnel cake and fried Oreos.
Honestly, there’s something about eating a hot, sugar-covered zeppole out of a paper bag at an Italian festival that just feels like summer in New Jersey.
Four Nights of Live Music
There’s live entertainment throughout the weekend, and this year’s lineup has a little something for everyone.
Friday, September 4: Simply the Best takes the stage at 7 p.m. with an evening of ’80s rock.
Saturday, September 5: The evening includes an Italian Mass at 5 p.m., followed by Mike Aromando and the Metropolitan Italian Strolling Band at 6 p.m. Wolf Creek takes the main stage at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 6: Local classic rock favorite The Broadcasters performs at 7 p.m.
Labor Day Monday, September 7: Jimmy and the Parrots close out the weekend at 5 p.m. with their Jimmy Buffett tribute.
Bring the Kids
This one is definitely family-friendly.
Along with the food and music, there’s a full carnival midway with rides and games for kids of all ages, making it easy to turn your festival visit into a full evening out.
There are also nightly 50/50 drawings, plus the festival’s big Super 50/50 raffle drawing on Labor Day. Last year’s jackpot topped $76,000, according to organizers.
Know Before You Go
The festival takes place at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish, 2032 Westfield Avenue in Scotch Plains, NJ. Admission is completely free.
Here are the dates and times:
- Friday, September 4: 4:30-10:30 p.m.
- Saturday, September 5: 4:30-10:30 p.m.
- Sunday, September 6: 4:30-10:30 p.m.
- Labor Day Monday, September 7: 3-8 p.m.
This is the kind of festival we love highlighting because it isn’t just another thing to do—it’s a community tradition.
For more than five decades, generations of families and volunteers have kept this feast going. So grab the kids, meet some friends, skip cooking dinner and make a night of it.
Come for the Italian food. Stay for the music. Let the kids hit the rides.
And whatever you do, save room for the zeppoles.
For more information, click here.
Antonietta LaVecchia has been a small business advocate for over two decades and has made it a mission to get communities to shop small and support local.