Little Italy, one pier over
The Sound Gennaro started at Tiki Beach in 2023 with a simple idea: throw a feast for San Gennaro the way Italian families always have, with the water as the backdrop. The pier had the view, the kitchen, and the neighbors to make it happen, and the feast has grown every year since.
Faith, family, and food, by the water
It's a feast in the old style, rooted in faith, family, and food, with Long Island Sound as the backdrop. Local restaurants and vendors, music on the pier, a procession along the boardwalk, and a place for every generation at the table.
Viva San Gennaro. Viva the Sound.
The saint behind the feast
San Gennaro, Saint Januarius in English, was the bishop of Benevento in the early fourth century and was martyred around the year 305, during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. He is the patron saint of Naples, where a vial said to hold his blood is kept in the cathedral.
Three times a year, most famously on his feast day of September 19, the faithful of Naples gather to watch for the blood to turn to liquid, a sign of good fortune for the city. Wherever Italian families have settled, September brings a feast in his name: a procession, a blessing, and a long table under the lights.
On the Sound, that feast happens on the pier at Tiki Beach, with salt air, string lights, and the water at the end of the boardwalk.
- Feast day
- September 19
- Patron of
- Naples, Italy
- On the Sound since
- 2023
Good to know before you come
The questions first-timers ask us most. Anything else? Write to Info@SoundGennaro.com.
When is The Sound Gennaro 2027?
The fifth Sound Gennaro is planned for September 2027 at Tiki Beach on the Playland boardwalk in Rye, NY. Exact dates are being finalized; sign up for updates on the home page and we'll email you the moment they're set.
Where is the feast held?
At Tiki Beach Pier Restaurant, 1 Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580, on the pier at the end of the Playland boardwalk, with Long Island Sound on three sides.
How do I get there, and where do I park?
Park in the Playland Park lot off Playland Parkway. The pier is a short walk along the boardwalk from the main lot. Take Metro-North's New Haven Line to Rye station. Playland is about two miles from the station, a short taxi or rideshare away.
Is the feast family-friendly?
Yes. There's a kids zone with games, crafts, and face painting, and the whole feast is all ages: food from local restaurants, live music on the pier stage, the procession, and fireworks over the water.
What does the feast have to do with San Gennaro?
San Gennaro is the patron saint of Naples, and his feast day is September 19. Wherever Italian families have settled, September brings a feast in his name with a procession, a blessing, and a long table under the lights. On the Sound, the procession runs along the Playland boardwalk with bands and banners leading the way.
Is this the Italian Festival at Tiki Beach?
Yes. The Sound Gennaro is the name of Tiki Beach's annual Italian festival on the Playland pier, held every September since 2023: same pier, same feast, with a name that ties Long Island Sound to San Gennaro.
How can my business take part?
Sponsorship packages start at $1,000 and put your name on the pier, the stage, and this site; in-kind sponsorships are welcome too. Vendors and food booths go through the contact page.
Can I arrive by boat?
Arriving by boat? Details on docking and tie-ups near the pier are coming soon.
Meet the committee
The Sound Gennaro is organized by neighbors, restaurateurs, and volunteers. One inbox reaches all of us:
Info@SoundGennaro.comFeast Chair
Committee Chair (TBA)
Sponsorships
Sponsorship Lead (TBA)
Vendors & Entertainment
Vendor Lead (TBA)
Press & Media
Media Lead (TBA)
Our home port
Tiki Beach Pier Restaurant hosts and presents The Sound Gennaro. The feast takes over the pier and the boardwalk around it, and the Tiki Beach team runs the kitchen, the bar, and the logistics that turn a pier into a piazza.