The 151st Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival! July 13 -18, 2026 - 1 Mt. Carmel Lane, Hammonton, NJ

Start: Monday, July 13, 2026 5:00PM
End: Saturday, July 18, 2026 11:00PM

The Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival traces its roots back to 1875, when three Italian immigrants — Antonio Capelli, Emanuual Persico, and Luigi Vuotto — gathered at Capelli’s home in Hammonton to pray before a painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, giving thanks for their safe passage to the United States, a successful harvest, and their new life in America. From that humble beginning, the celebration grew quickly. By 1886, the feast had moved to Hammonton Lake Park, and in 1905 the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society was formally established to organize and sustain the event each year. The festival has continued uninterrupted since 1875, making it widely recognized as the longest continuously running Italian-American festival in the United States. Over the decades the society and the feast have evolved, always centered on devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, but also embracing broader cultural and community activities. The spiritual heart of the festival is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated each year on July 16. This feast commemorates a tradition dating back to a 13th-century Marian vision experienced by St. Simon Stock, to whom the Virgin Mary is said to have given the brown scapular — a symbol of her protection and intercession. On the feast day, multiple Masses are held at St. Joseph Church (part of the local St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish), concluding with the grand procession through the streets of Hammonton. This procession winds its way through town, led by statues and icons of the Blessed Mother and other saints, accompanied by bands, devotees, and hundreds of participants, many praying as they walk. Although deeply rooted in religious devotion, the festival also includes a wide range of secular and family-friendly activities: • A week-long carnival with rides, games, and midway attractions for all ages. • Live music and DJ entertainment nightly, with free shows and a beer garden providing a festive atmosphere. • Food stands serving traditional Italian fare — from local favorites — alongside classic festival foods. • Fireworks displays are held during the festival, often on the feast day and at closing celebrations. • In special anniversary years (e.g., the 150th in 2025), unique attractions like a drone light show have been featured, telling the story of the festival in the sky with music and choreography. • The event draws tens of thousands of visitors annually — locals, families with generations of tradition, and visitors from across the region. • Many families pass down their involvement in the festival and society through generations, reflecting deep community pride. • While the focus is religious, the festival doubles as a major cultural celebration of Italian-American heritage, blending faith, food, music, and fun. For many in Hammonton and beyond, the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival is more than just a summer event — it’s a living link to family, faith, heritage, and community identity. It has endured through world wars, economic upheavals, and public health challenges (including the COVID-19 pandemic), continuing to bring together people of diverse backgrounds to celebrate tradition and joy.