08/19/2026
Sunday evening I went to the North End to catch the final festivities of the Fisherman's Feast. I had thought about vending there, and this is how I found out about the connection to Sciacca, Sicily, where my heritage lies. The fishermen in Sciacca look to the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca (The Lady of Help of Sciacca) for safety and protection and are devoted to her. Upon arriving, I spoke with one of the members of the Society, who stated that one of their sister-clubs is in Norristown, PA (where my parents grew up).
The festival starts on the Thursday before the 3rd weekend in August (near the Assumption). The Madonna is carried to the wharf for the blessing of the boats and the 4-day festival begins. Shoulder-to-shoulder, in the streets of the North End, I watched the finale of the festival, the "flight of the angel," which was very lively and fun. The best part for me, though, was after this. By some wonderful serendipity, I was able to witness the true ending, back at the wharf. No crowds, no fanfare. Just the Madonna and the "angels" shouting "Viva Madonna di Sciacca" and praying the Hail Mary.
Tradition. Heritage. Faith. Dedication.