It is that time of year friends…. its time for the Giglio Festival!

Here is an abbreviated schedule:
* 07/08/2009-Opening Night
* 07/12/2009-Giglio Sunday
* 07/15/2009-Night Lift
* 07/16/2009-Feast Day
* 07/19/2009-Old Timer’s Day

What is the Giglio Feast you ask?
Well the Giglio is actually a “dance” of sorts in which 125 men carry a Five-Ton, Five-Story, Hand-Sculptured Tower and a 12- piece Brass Band on their shoulders and dance through the streets singing Italian folk songs,paying homage Patron Saint San Paolino and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This exciting ritual known as ‘The Dance of the Giglio’ has been celebrated each summer in front of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This feast, which has been taking place in Brooklyn for over 100 years, commemorates an extraordinary bit of southern Italian history, and is celebrated by old traditions, and of course, LOTS OF FOOD. You can expect a lot of Italian street vendors, carnival rides, some Italian pride merch, and, of course, the Giglio tower and boat (when the dance the steeple and boat start at opposite sides of Havenmeyer until they meet in front of the church and they do a little dance.)

Check out some pics on Flickr. These pictures are really amazing and you must check them out.

Some YouTube videos:

Come out, have some sausage and peppers, ride the Ferris wheel, and watch the Giglio Dance! This is a fun little Italian tradition and will definitely get you in the festive spirit.
More info can be found here.

OLMC Church – Havenmeyer St between N6 and N9 in Williamsburg.