This weekend brings the annual Catholic festival to honor Saint Sebastian, the Roman soldier and Christian martyr from the 4th century. The festival will take place Friday through Sunday on the grounds of St. Sebastian church, on Washington Street between Pearl and Broad. There will be a small carnival, and lots of fantastic Italian food and candy. It is also the first occasion to purchase Vecchito's Italian Ice each year.
The climax of the festival is the running of the Nuri, in which the Saint is honored by a parade of shoe-less devotees in white, with a red sash to honor his martyrdom.
For a good write-up of the history and culture of the festival, see the Eye article by Ed McKeon, previewing the 2009 Festival.
An equivalent festival takes place each year in Melilli, Sicily.
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